VLOS - drone operations within visual line of sight

On this page, you can read more about VLOS and how to calculate your VLOS distance for your drone operations.

What is VLOS?

In the open category, you must operate your drone so that you can clearly see the drone and its surroundings at all times, as well as its direction and ability to avoid hazards. This is referred to as VLOS – Visual Line of Sight.

The VLOS requirement applies to all drone pilots. Whether you operate in the open or specific category, and regardless of whether you have a drone certificate or not, you must know your maximum VLOS distance.

How to calculate your VLOS

You need to complete two steps to determine your VLOS distance:

  1. Determine the VLOS distance for your drone.
  2. Determine the VLOS distance based on visibility conditions.

Your VLOS distance is the smaller of these two values. For example, if visibility is 100 meters, you may only fly 30 meters away, even if the drone's VLOS distance is greater.

Below, we have compiled two lists with examples of maximum VLOS distances to help you determine your VLOS distance.

Model

Diagonal distance from wingtip to wingtip

Maximum VLOS-distance

Autel Evo Nano+

41,6 cm

156,09 meters

DJI Mini 3

44 cm

164,05 meters

DJI Mini 4 Pro

47,7 cm

176,11 meters

DJI Mavic 3

67,9 cm

242,03 meters

DJI Inspire 3

1,15 meters

398,01 meters

DJI Matrice 30

1,15 meters

398,01 meters

DJI Matrice 300/350

1,58 meters

546,66 meters

AG Eagle Ebee X (Fastvinget)

1,16 meters

597,4 meters

Visibility

Maximum distance

100 meters

30 meters

200 meters

60 meters

300 meters

90 meters

400 meters

120 meters

500 meters

150 meters

1000 meters

300 meters

1500 meters

450 meters

2000 meters

600 meters

5000 meters

1500 meters

If your drone or visibility conditions are not listed, you can calculate the maximum VLOS distance yourself using the formulas below.

How to calculate your own VLOS distance

Please note the following:

  1. When calculating the distance based on the drone's size, you need to know the diagonal distance from propeller tip to propeller tip for multirotor drones or the distance from wingtip to wingtip for fixed-wing drones.
  2. When calculating the distance based on visibility, you need to know the visibility conditions at the location where you wish to operate. You can check the visibility at the nearest airport here.
  3. The smallest value determines how far you can fly.

  • Measure your DRONE diagonally from propeller tip to propeller tip.

  • Insert the measurement into this formula:

327 x [diagonal measurement in meters] + 20m

Example for DJI Matrice 30:

327 x 1.15 + 20 = 398.01 meters

  • Measure your DRONE from wingtip to wingtip.

  • Insert the measurement into this formula:

490 x [wingtip-to-wingtip measurement in meters] + 30m

 Example for AG Eagle Ebee X:

490 x 1.16 + 30 = 597.4 meters

0.3 x (visibility in meters)

Example:

0.3 x 5000 = 1500 meters

Relevant documents

You can find the full overview of EASA’s calculation model here:

Guidelines for UAS operations in the open and specific category – Ref to Regulation (EU) 2019/947, issue no.: 2, 04.10.2024

Senest opdateret 09-04-2025