International Drone Pilot Licence

[Pete162]

Since over five years I'm a global traveler and since 8 months I own a Mavic 2 pro. In my home country Switzerland there is no Licence needed to fly a drone. The only requirement is a liability Insurance. My question is if there is an international authority which issues pilot licences for drones. It can be very helpful, when dealing with authorities abroad, especially police officers, who sometimes are checking what you are doing. Thanks for any input.

 

[FoxhallGH]

It would be really nice to know what the license conditions are going to be in our own country at the moment @Pete162 ... We have the CAA going through the 'Consultation' phase of their UK Drone Registration scheme - and although they have asked for input, it just seems that it's a hoop they jump through on the way to imposing what they want to anyway ... We will see what we have to do & pay in October.
It would be nice (and sensible too), however, if the Registration scheme of one country was accepted in another - but - I think that's far away at this stage ...

 

[Meta4]

My question is if there is an international authority which issues pilot licences for drones.

There's nothing like that at all.

 

[Herbie D]

Can’t hurt to have the certification with you, especially when talking the law enforcement. At least it would show you’re not just someone who has no idea. From what I’ve seen, rules in most countries are exactly the same.

 

[zocalo]

No - nothing like that, unfortunately. Currently there's often a bit of paperwork required that's specific to each country, and if there are any issues having your own paperwork with you as well won't hurt.

Further to what @FoxhallGH said above, I did raise the possibility of doing this in my feedback to the CAA for their consultation in the above. If not a single global scheme (which seems unlikely), then at least some kind of mutual recognition scheme, e.g. if you have the FAA's Part 107, then the CAA would automatically treat that as a PfCO if you came to the UK, and vice versa. That would also help with the CAA's handling of drones being brought into the UK so they may be receptive to this idea and use the UK's UN/G7 influence to push for it.

It'll probably take a few years for anything like this to get off the ground though, if it ever does, but until then you best bet is to search the Rules & Regulations forum here, and sites like UAVCoach's guides before visiting each country.

 

[Wokka Wokka]

Does anyone even know how many countries have actual Pilot Licences for drones versus just being registered with someone?
Is the Campaign Against Aviation (CAA) in the UK going to have a register or will there be an actual licence?
Here in Aus there's currently no licence required for hobbyist, or commercial use if it's under 2kg, their is a Remote Pilot Licence for commercial use over 2kg though.

 

[zocalo]

Is the Campaign Against Aviation (CAA) in the UK going to have a register or will there be an actual licence?

There's already a commercial license in the UK - the PfCO - which is supposedly required for *any* commercialisation of imagery, including monetised YouTube feeds, etc. although I'm not aware of anyone being prosecuted for this.

By November (the system is due to be introduced before then) we'll be getting mandatory registration of all drones over 250g, their "operators", or the party responsible for the drone itself (who need not be the pilot), and any pilots who are not "operators". There's a fee and ID numbers involved (no mention of cards though), so I'd read that as more of a "non-commercial license" than a mere registration, but YMMV and it's still subject to revision.

 

[Nelson 1949]

Does anyone even know how many countries have actual Pilot Licences for drones versus just being registered with someone?
Is the Campaign Against Aviation (CAA) in the UK going to have a register or will there be an actual licence?
Here in Aus there's currently no licence required for hobbyist, or commercial use if it's under 2kg, their is a Remote Pilot Licence for commercial use over 2kg though.

Based on personal experience, many countries do nopt accept a conventional pilot's issued by another country even though the actual licensing requirements may be similar. When I lived in Brisbane for a couple of years, my US pilot's license for SEL, MEL, and Instruments was not acceptable for Australia. In order to avoid all of the testing and recertification, I had to acquire an Australian license good for VFR flying only. This was based on my logbook entries and my US license but was much more limited than my US license.

Nelson

 

[Herbie D]

Just out of interest and off topic a bit, there is an international treaty signed by about 60 countries recognising reciprocal licensing for car drivers. Allows for a year to drive in another country. Some countries get their licences with no testing at all (just pay the money and you have it). Would require high level cooperation and public backing that I don’t think is there yet.
It can be done though.

 

[Pete162]

Thanks for all the input. I guess it is not possible at this moment.
What about an institution like for example "Mavic Pilots", who would be able to certify the experience you have out of the logbook? I'm sure that could even be a profitable business, as lots of pilots would be willing to pay a fee to get something "official" into their hands!

 

[zocalo]

What about an institution like for example "Mavic Pilots", who would be able to certify the experience you have out of the logbook?

Again, I think that would be dependant on international agreements, but there may be a half-way house that could work.

Theoretically the CAA, FAA, or whoever, might be able to authorise larger drone pilot groups to certify pilots on their behalf - e.g. issue PfCOs, or Part 107s. An international association of such groups could them make acquiring the equivalent paperwork for other countries a relative formality. That would still leave us stuck with having to deal with paperwork on a country-by-country basis, but it might at least remove some of the red tape.

 

[Kilrah]

At this point every single country does it their own special way, even in unions such as the EU where things are supposed to be harmonized, plus it evolves regularly in each place... So it's basically impossible any organization could do something meaningfully recognised.

 

[Deleted member 94047]

The EU is working on "harmonised rules for safe drone operation".

"If no objections are raised by the EU Parliament or by the EU Council, both acts will be published before the summer of 2019 and the regulation will become gradually applicable within a year of publication. By 2022 the transitional period will be completed and the regulation will be fully applicable".

Drones & Air Mobility | EASA

EASA | European Union Aviation Safety Agency: The European Union Authority for aviation safety

www.easa.europa.eu