Drone Laws Finland [March 2023] [Rules & How to Register]

Drone laws Finland is a comprehensive guide to the drone regulations and laws in Finland. It has been written specifically for drone pilots operating their aircraft within the borders of this beautiful country. drone laws in Finland will give you a good understanding of how to become compliant with the latest regulations, in order to keep flying legally.

Keep your drone within sight at all times. Fly no higher than 400 feet (120 meters) above ground level. Refrain from flying your drone within 150 feet (50 meters) of people or property not under your control. Never fly near an airport or above crowds of people.

As a longtime fan of drones (well before they became popular), I have always been striving to share my enthusiasm with the rest of the world. I love answering questions that everyone seems to want answers to, but no one seems to ask. So today I’ll answer why there are drone laws in Finland, how the new drone laws came about and how we got here today.

Drone laws in Finland are prevalent now, and it is binding to all drone owners/pilots. Here we discuss the regulations and related points, which could prevent issues and punishments in future.

Must Mark It With Your Name And Address.

You’re required to mark your drone with your name and address if your drone weighs more than 250 grams (0.55 pounds) or if it has a camera.

You must place the markings in an easily readable location so that they can be seen under normal conditions and observed from different directions. The markings must be permanent, easy to read, and easy to understand.

This means they should be at least 5 millimeters high and placed in a contrasting color against the background of your drone! It’s important to remember that you have only two hours after landing the drone to do this marking!

The marking should be visible on all sides of the drone, but certain parts of it may have other mandated markings such as serial numbers or insurance information.

If you have these kinds of markings on your drone, then you don’t need to put the contact information on all four sides. However, there must be some way for authorities to access this contact information from any angle should they need it!

Forbidden From Flying A Drone In Airspace

If you wish to operate a drone in controlled airspace, you must first contact Trafi (the Finnish Transport Safety Agency) for permission. You can contact them here:

• Tel. +358 29 534 6000
• E-mail: [[email protected]] (mailto:[email protected])

Not Fly A Drone Within 15 Kilometers Of An Aerodrome

Aerodromes are places where airplanes land and take off. They include commercial airports, private airports, and semi-permanent airstrips.

The Finnish Transport Safety Agency controls aerodromes in Finland. You may not fly a drone within 15 kilometers of an aerodrome, unless authorized to do so by the operator of the aerodrome or the pilot for a specific flight.

This means that you will have to obtain permission from each airport individually if you want to fly your drone close to multiple different airports. You can apply for permission online at the agency’s website or via email.

Permission most likely would be granted if you were flying out of an airport yourself and wanted to take pictures with your drone before taking off on your trip.

Not Operate Your Drone Within 5 Kilometers Of A Nuclear Power Plant

You may not operate your drone within 5 kilometers of a nuclear power plant, unless otherwise instructed.

The reason for the rule is in case something goes wrong with your drone; you don’t want it to fly into the area where there are radioactive materials.

These materials can be dangerous if they get out, so they’re restricted to particular areas. If you break this rule you could face a $186 fine or even imprisonment of up to six months.

You Must Keep Your Drone In Sight At All Times.

• You must keep your drone in sight at all times. If you can’t see it, you can’t fly it. It’s that simple.
• If you lose sight, land as soon as possible. “Lose sight” means that your drone is out of view to the extent that it would be easy to lose track of where it was relative to other people and objects in the air or on the ground.
• If you are using a first-person view device (like a pair of goggles), then you are still considered to be flying in sight—you must be able to see the drone with your own eyes at all times when flying.

Finnish Transport Safety Agency Has Issued Clear Guidelines

Although the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (Trafi) regulates drone use in Finland, it does so from a place of reason and has published clear guidelines for using them.

You can avoid breaking the law by following these rules:

• You must never fly your drone over or near large gatherings of people in Finland. This includes, but is not limited to, festivals and sporting events. If your drone is flying above a group of people and one person throws their hands up in exasperation, that’s considered a ‘large gathering.’
• You are not allowed to fly your drone anywhere near airports or landing strips, even if there aren’t any planes around. The thought alone that an airplane might someday land there will cause the Trafi police to arrest you on the spot.
• If you do get arrested because you broke the Trafi laws while flying your drone in Finland, they will probably ask you how much money you make and how much money your parents make. Once they are satisfied with this information, they’ll let you go home. However, if Trafi doesn’t think your answers were truthful enough about how much money you make and/or how much money your parents make—or if they don’t like what color shirt you’re wearing—they will force you to live off-the-grid for at least one month before letting you go home again.

Are Drones Allowed In Finland?

Drones In Nature Areas.

• Drones may be flown in Natura areas as long as they do not disturb any species living there.
• Drones are prohibited in national parks and wilderness areas. This is set forth by law, and violations can lead to penalties. However, drones may be flown over a wilderness area or national park with the permission of Metsähallitus (the state-owned land management organization) or another owner of the land. Again, though, flying may not disturb any species living there.

Drone Operators Must Be Aware Of Different Kinds Of Nature Areas

There are certain rules and regulations in place for flying drones in Finland. Drone operators must be aware of different kinds of nature areas and restrictions that apply to each area.

National parks and wilderness areas have the most restrictions, while it is generally permitted to fly drones in national parks.

In national parks, you may not fly drones within 100 metres of buildings or humans unless given permission from the national park authority. In wilderness areas, you may not fly drones within 50 metres of buildings or humans unless given permission from the national park authority.

You may not fly drones in nature areas without prior permission from Metsähallitus (the Forestry Department). Permission can be requested by contacting Metsähallitus

National Parks Are Not Suitable Places For Flying Drones.

The national parks are protected areas, where you are not allowed to disturb wildlife or other visitors. You are allowed to fly drones outside the national park boundaries, as long as you don’t disturb anyone with your drone noise.

It Is Prohibited To Fly Drones In Wilderness Areas.

It is prohibited to fly drones in national parks or wilderness areas.

If you are planning to fly your drone commercially, you will need a license. This is the case even if you receive no compensation for your hobby.

There are no special regulations on flying drones in Finland, but you must remember the following:

• The maximum permitted altitude for unmanned aircraft is 150 metres above ground level.
• You may not fly within 5 kilometres of an airport or military airfield. This also applies to landing strips used by emergency services and private planes.

You May Fly Drones Outside The National Park Boundaries

You may fly drones outside the national park boundaries, but you need to ensure that no one is disturbed by the drone’s noise or by flying too close to people.

Drones are not permitted in a number of natural areas including:

• National parks
• Wilderness areas
• Nature reserves
• Saami reindeer herding area (unless prior permission has been granted)

You May Also Fly Drones In Nature Areas

You may also fly drones in Nature areas as long as you do not disturb any species living there. Nature areas are protected areas under European Union (EU) legislation and are designated by the EU as a means to protect the natural environment of these areas, which include wetlands, bogs, forests, and grasslands.

These areas are designated as special protection areas because they promote biodiversity and sustain ecosystems that fit within the ecological network of Europe.

If you fly your drone outside of cities or towns where there is little to no human activity, it is important to remember that you will be flying over protected environments with flora and fauna that can easily be disturbed by noises from a drone.

If you have any questions about whether a certain area qualifies as protected or if there’s an individual bird nest in your area that may need protection during breeding season, it’s best to do some research ahead of time rather than risk hitting birds with your drone (which can get quite messy).

The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs recently released guidelines for those who want to operate drones in Finland. According to their website: “Flying drones is restricted near airports and other locations where aircraft take off or land.”

It Is Important To Make Sure You Don’t Disturb Anyone

Here are a few things to keep in mind while flying drones in Finland:

• Be aware of the noise. If you’re going to be operating your drone close to residential areas or otherwise populated areas, it’s important that your drone not be disruptive. If someone complains about the noise coming from your drone, you should land it and stop your flight immediately.
• Keep a distance. While the actual distance differs based on how populated an area is, there is generally a minimum height requirement for all drone flights. This ensures that if there are people below you while you fly your drone, they will not be disturbed, as many people find the noise from drones off-putting and intrusive.
• There may be restrictions on where you can fly. In national parks and wilderness areas, for example, it may not be legal to fly drones at all unless special permission has been granted by park authorities or other relevant organizations. This can also apply to larger towns and cities as well—if there is a high population density in an area or if there are any special events happening nearby that prohibit aerial activities (such as fireworks), then flying drones may not be allowed without prior authorization.

How To Register Drone In Finland

Visit The Trafi Website

To register your drone, visit the Trafi website (available in English), find the e-services section (it’s under the top menu, where it says “Our services”), and click on drone registration. The drone registration page is at https://www.trafi.fi)

Asked For Information About You As An Operator And Your Drone.

You will then be asked for information about you as an operator and your drone. You will need to know the type of drone, its weight and its manufacturer.

You will also need to know the purpose of the drone, the areas where it will be used, and the frequency of use. Finally, you will need to know the flight range and height of the drone.

The Trafi Website Will Generate Your License Number

After you have created a license number, the Trafi website will generate your license number and printable registration document. You need to use both of these documents to register your drone.

The license number generated by the Trafi system is used for registering unmanned aircraft in their database. As soon as you have received it, you can register your drone with the Local Register Offices or the police department in charge of vehicle registrations.

Easily Complete The Simple Registration

Good news! If you’re flying in Finland, drone registration is a simple and easy process. Anybody over the age of 15 can register a drone weighing less than 20 kilograms (44 lbs.).

If you are planning to fly your drone in Finland, you will need to go through the Trafi website. This is a quick process that needs some information from you and then allows you to print out your registration certificate.

You can find the steps for registering your drone with Trafi at this link: [How to Register a Drone in Finland] (https://www.trafi.fi)

Conclusion

You cannot fly your drone within 150 meters of a building or any other object that is higher than the height of your drone. You also cannot fly over crowds of people or at night. Drone pilots must stay below an altitude of 400 feet

The Finnish government has regulations for flying drones in different circumstances however there are no general laws that say flying of drones is prohibited or required.

The regulations for special cases or places differ from other countries and the flying of a drone may be legal or maybe illegal in some areas. The drone laws in Finland have been written to reflect these exceptions and the current General Aviation rules.

Frequently Asked Questions (drone Laws Finland)

Can I Fly My Drone In Finland?

Yes, you can fly your drone in Finland. However, there are some strict rules that you must follow.

You will need to be a licensed drone pilot and have permission from the Helsinki Police Department if you want to fly your drone in Finland.

You also cannot fly your drone if it weighs more than 10 kilograms (22 pounds), or if it has a rotor diameter larger than 30 centimeters (12 inches). If your drone is used for filming or photography purposes, then this weight restriction does not apply.

You must be at least 16 years old to qualify as a licensed drone pilot in Finland and can only fly one of these devices while an adult maintains visual contact with the device at all times during operation.

What Is The Maximum Altitude For A Private Drone To Fly In Finland?

The maximum altitude for a private drone to fly in Finland is 400ft.

A flight above this limit requires an air traffic control clearance, which you can request from Finavia ATC (the Finnish Air Navigation Services).

Are There Any Age Restrictions For Flying A Drone In Finland?

Are There Any Age Restrictions For Flying A Drone In Finland?

If you are under 18, you need a parent or guardian to sign your application and be present when you fly your drone.

If you are under 16, your parent or guardian must accompany you at all times when flying your drone. If you are under 14 years of age, the parent or guardian must accompany the child while flying their drone.

Do I Need Insurance To Fly My Drone In Finland?

The short answer is yes. You need to have insurance and a license if you want to fly your drone in Finland. When it comes to insurance, there are two options:

• You can purchase the insurance from an online provider like the ones listed below
• You can also buy insurance at the airport when you arrive in Finland.

When it comes to licenses, there are two types: AOC and PPL (Private Pilot’s License). If you plan on flying commercially or as part of your job duties (e.g., aerial photography), then you will need both licenses.

Can I Fly A Commercial Drone In Finland?

If you want to fly a commercial drone in Finland you must have:

• A permit from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira)
• Insurance covering damages caused by your drone if it crashes into someone or something else
• A pilot’s license

What Are The Laws Regarding Flying A Commercial Drone In Finland?

Do you want to fly a commercial drone in Finland? If so, it’s important to know that you’ll need a license and registration from the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (Trafi). You will also need to follow the rules of the air when flying your drone. Specifically, these rules stipulate that:

• Your flight must be within visual line-of-sight. So if you can see your drone at all times (without using binoculars), then it’s safe to assume that you’re fine.
• You are allowed three flights per day with no prerequisites other than a valid medical certificate proving that you are physically capable of operating a UAV without any obstructions or impairments affecting its safe operation.
• If there are any obstacles on or near where your flight takes place—such as people walking around—you must avoid them at all costs unless they pose no danger whatsoever (such as being standing on grass behind them).