Drone Laws in Finland

What are the laws regarding Drones / UAV / Quadcopters in Finland?

Finland has one of the most liberal aviation regulations in the world as regards the use of unmanned aircraft and flying models. The level of regulation depends on how the device is used. The requirements for model aircraft used for recreational purposes are significantly lighter than those for remotely piloted aircraft used professionally.

Guidelines

  1. During flight always maintain visual contact to your drone.
  2. Flying closer than 5 km from an airport is not allowed without permission from the air traffic control tower.
  3. The maximum allowed flight altitude is 150 m. Flying in the control zone of an airport but still further away than 5 km of the airport the maximum allowed flight altitude is 50 m.
  4. Flying a drone above a crowd of people is not allowed.
  5. The flight must not endanger or disturb the operations of an emergency services helicopter.
  6. While flying close to small airports or helipads such as Nummela or Meilahti you should be extra careful.
  7. Flying above cities is allowed when the pilot knows the flying area, has made sure that flying safely there is possible and the drone weighs less than 3kg.
  8. Flights should not cause danger to or disturb other people.
  9. Drones are responsible for avoiding other aircraft.
  10. Mark your drone with your name and contact information.
  11. Taking an insurance against third party damages is recommended.

No Drone Zones in Finland

  1. There are several areas in Finland that are forbidden from aviation. These areas include nuclear
    1. power plants,
    2. oil refineries, and
    3. areas used by the government
  2. There are several areas just in Helsinki that are forbidden from drones.
    1. There are two airports in the north and three no drone zones close to the city centre.

No drone zone in Helsinki city centre

Altitude of Operation

0
Feet

OR

0
Metres

Source: Finnish Transport Safety Agency

Updated January 2018

From My Personal Experience

Finland has some of the most liberal drone laws in the world. During my trip, I saw numerous drones in Inari, Rovaniemi, and Helsinki. Helsinki was the only city where I saw no drone zones. The signs are clearly posted for visitors to see in the locations. Also as the airport is located within a 5 km radius, Kemi is a no drone town.

My Advice

Instead of remembering the laws all the time, and wondering if it’s safe to fly in your area, simply download the Droneinfo app on your phone. The app is developed by the Finnish Transport Safety Agency, and provides you all the information you need regarding flying your drone based on your current location.

Tips For Flying In Extremely Cold Conditions

If you’re visiting Finland in the winter, you’ll need to be extra careful while flying your drone in the freezing cold. Most drone manufacturers discourage you from flying in temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius. The cold negatively affects the battery performance. However, it is still possible to fly your drone in extremely cold conditions by taking a few extra precautions. Read my tips and best practices for flying your drone in cold weather here.

    1. Keep your batteries warm till you’re ready to fly.
    2. Do not leave your drone, and the batteries in the cold for too long.
    3. Once you take off, hover over the ground for about a minute. This is to insure that your drone warms up before it flies.
    4. Avoid any extreme or rapid maneuvers in the air. Go easy on the throttle.
    5. Keep an eye on the battery voltage metre if you own a DJI drone. From what I know, if the battery voltage drops below 3.2 volts (for the Mavic), you need to immediately stop flying and return your drone to the ground.
    6. Ice may freeze on the propellers if you fly in foggy, freezing conditions. To avoid any damage to the drone, remove the propellers after landing, and store the propellers away from the drone. This will prevent the drone from getting wet. Also, insure that there is no ice build-up on the drone body. You can remove the ice with a credit card or visiting card.
    7. Batteries are unable hold charge in extreme cold conditions. Bring your drone back well before the battery reaches its critical point.
    8. And finally, wear gloves and something extra warm.

Ice build up on the propeller

I flew my Mavic in temperatures of -19 degrees Celsius. The drone handled itself beautifully, expect for a slightly lower flight time.

Finland Aerial Photography Gallery

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