First drone? The four steps to your first flight

Drohnie, the Hoverpoint mascot, giving a thumbs up

You have just unboxed your first drone. Before it can legally take off, there are four things to sort out – the first three only once, most of them in a single evening. Here is the order, with costs and links. We use Germany as the example; elsewhere in the EU the steps are the same, only the portal and the fees differ.

Step 1: Register as an operator

Who: anyone whose drone weighs 250 g or more or has a camera (toys excepted). That covers practically every camera drone, including a DJI Mini.
Where: in the EU country where you live. In Germany that is the Federal Aviation Office, online at uas-registration.lba-openuav.de. The operator is registered – you as a person or your company – not each drone separately.
Cost and time in Germany: 20 euros for private individuals, processing takes up to 14 working days.
Afterwards: you receive an operator registration number, the e-ID. It must be visibly attached to every drone you fly. If your drone has Remote ID (mandatory for classes C1 to C3), you also enter the e-ID in the drone or its app so that it broadcasts it in flight.

Step 2: A1/A3 competency certificate

Who needs it: anyone flying a drone of 250 g or more, or a class C1 to C3 drone. It is not mandatory for a C0 drone or a drone under 250 g, but still recommended.
How: free online training at your aviation authority, then an online test with 40 questions.
Cost in Germany: 25 euros for the test and the certificate, valid for five years.
Closer to people: with a C0 or C1 drone you fly in subcategory A1 and may also fly near uninvolved people, just not over crowds – A1/A3 is enough for that. You only need the A2 remote pilot certificate if you want to fly a C2 drone closer to people: then a distance of 30 m applies, 5 m with low-speed mode active. The difference is explained in EU drone licence: A1/A3 or A2.

Step 3: Liability insurance

Mandatory for every drone in Germany: every drone needs third-party liability insurance, however light it is (§ 43 of the German Air Traffic Act). Flying without it is an offence. Many other EU countries require it too.
Check your household policy: many policies exclude drones or only cover them up to a certain weight. If yours does not mention drones explicitly, you need separate drone liability insurance.
Carry proof: you must have proof of insurance with you when flying. In the Hoverpoint app it sits in the EFB, ready to show.

Step 4: Check your take-off spot – before every flight

Geozones: airports, nature reserves, residential properties, federal roads and many other areas are geozones with their own rules. The free Airspace Check or the map in the app shows which ones touch your take-off point. More: Drone rules in Germany.
NOTAMs: short-notice closures are published as NOTAMs. How to read them: NOTAMs for drone pilots.
Weather: wind at flight altitude is often much stronger than on the ground. Limits per model are in Drone wind limits.
Basic rules: at most 120 m above ground, always within line of sight, never over crowds.

Checklist before your first flight

e-ID attached to the drone.
Proof of insurance and competency certificate with you, on paper or digital.
Batteries charged, firmware up to date, propellers free of cracks.
Take-off spot checked: geozone, NOTAM, wind.
Take-off and landing area clear, nobody in the way.

You can keep your own tick-off checklists in the Hoverpoint app and in the web app.

Key terms

A1/A3: The EU competency certificate for the open category. Taken online at your national aviation authority, 40 questions, valid for five years.
A2: The EU remote pilot certificate. Lets you fly a class C2 drone closer to uninvolved people and requires A1/A3 first.
C0 to C4: Classes the manufacturer assigns to a drone. The class decides which subcategory you may fly in. C0 means under 250 g.
CTR (control zone): The airspace around an airport. You need clearance from air traffic control there; some areas have a general clearance with a fixed height limit.
DFS: Deutsche Flugsicherung, the German air navigation service. It handles clearances in control zones.
DIPUL: The German federal platform for unmanned aviation and the official map of all geozones in Germany. Hoverpoint queries it live.
e-ID: Your registration number as a drone operator. It must be visibly attached to every drone you fly.
EFB: Electronic Flight Bag: the digital document folder in the app for insurance, certificates and permits.
Geozone: An area with its own drone rules, such as an airport, a nature reserve or a residential property. Some geozones ban flying, others require permission.
Kp index: A measure of geomagnetic activity from 0 to 9. At high values, from around Kp 5, GPS and compass can become inaccurate.
LBA: Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, the German Federal Aviation Office. It registers drone operators and issues competency certificates in Germany.
NOTAM: Notice to Airmen: an official short notice about temporary restrictions, such as closures at major events.
Open category: The rule set for most hobby and photo flights: at most 120 m above ground, within sight, no permit needed.
Specific category: Anything beyond the open category, such as flights out of sight. It requires an operational authorisation.
Remote ID: The drone broadcasts its e-ID and position by radio in flight. Mandatory for class C1 to C3 drones.
Line of sight (VLOS): Visual Line of Sight: you must be able to see the drone with your own eyes at all times. BVLOS means beyond visual line of sight.
§ 21h LuftVO: The German regulation that defines geozones for drones. Flying in some zones needs consent or an exemption from the authority.

Hoverpoint handles step 4 before every flight with one tap: geozone, airspace, NOTAMs and wind for exactly the point you want to take off from. Hoverpoint for Android and iOS, or straight in your browser at web.hoverpoint.info.

Note: this page summarises the situation as of September 2026, using Germany as the example. It is not legal advice and does not replace information from the authorities. The regulations in force are binding.