Cross-border operations refer to specific category drone operations conducted in other EASA member states than your own. Cross-border operations require meticulous planning and compliance with both the European regulation and possible national rules.

Besides national rules, specific requirements to the planning of operations and operational areas may apply. Prior to the cross-border application, please familiarize with the specific rules and requirements, which apply to the intended country of operations.

The cross-border permit

A permit for a cross-border operation is only issued for operations in the specific category based on existing operational authorizations. The authorization must be issued by the civil aviation authority of your home country, provided that the country is an EASA country.

Cross-border operations from a non-EASA country

If you are from a country that has not implemented the EU drone regulation, the civil aviation authority of the country where you choose to conduct your first drone operations will become your competent authority. E.g. if you wish to fly in Denmark first. The Danish Civil Aviation & Railway Authority will be your European civil aviation authority.

That country will assess your application for an operation in the specific category and issue an operational authorization. This operational authorization will form the basis for your cross-border operations.

Local mitigating measures

Taking an operational authorization with you to another country requires you to regard and apply local mitigating measures, which are procedures and requirements that are specific to that country

You may find the mandatory requirements for local mitigations on the website of the country’s civil aviation authority. Is it not possible, you should contact them as most EASA countries require you to regard local mitigating measures.

Local mitigating measures in Denmark

• Description of the operations in Denmark
• Visualization of the operational area in map form (For generic operational authorizations, you must submit a visualization of a representative operational area)
• Procedures that ensure that all remote pilots orient themselves about geographical drone zones and both temporary and permanent restricted areas on dronezoner.dk prior to flying.
• An updated Emergency Response Plan that corresponds to that all phone numbers for the most important emergency calls are updated
  • Emergency services: 112
  • Police: 114
  • NAVIAIR (ANSP): +45 32 47 82 21
  • Contact information to other parties relevant for the operations (E.g. AFIS, ATC, Danish Defence etc.)
• Any procedures related to ensuring that BVLOS flights are only flown in Air risk class A airspace (ARC-A). (ARC-A = Restricted areas, <30 metre above ground level or <30 metres away from and max 15 metres above man-made obstacles).

This means that your application for operations in the specific category must first be submitted to the civil aviation authority in your home country.

Application process for cross-border operations in Denmark:

• You must have an operational authorization from your national civil aviation authority.
• Apply for a cross-border drone operation. The application must include documentation on procedures related to national rules and requirements of Denmark.
• Submit the cross-border operation to info@trafikstyrelsen.dk
• It can take anywhere from three to six months after you submit your application materials before a caseworker is assigned to review them.
• When local mitigations are deemed acceptable, The Danish Civil Avition and Railway Authority will send a confirmation to your national civil aviation authority.
• You may start the operation when we send a confirmation of acceptability to your national civil aviation authority.
• Your cross-border operation will subsequently be added to your operational authorization by your national civil aviation authority.

You can read more about the application process for cross-border drone operations in EASA's Easy Access Rules, Article 13.