There is also another restriction for commercial flyers which is that they can only fly drones that weigh less than 25 kg. If your drone weighs more than that, then you will need special permission from BULATSA.
So, these were the basic permit requirements for flying drones in Bulgaria. Remember that these requirements can change at any time so it's always best to stay up to date by checking the latest drone laws on the BULATSA website.
What to Do if You Want to Fly Your Drone in Bulgaria for Different Activities?
According to our research, there are no special laws imposed by the government of Bulgaria for drone pilots. However, you will need to get permission directly from the Civil Aviation Administration (DG CAA) at the moment.
The process is as follows:
You will need to submit a letter to the DG CAA at least 8 days before flying your drone. The example letter provided by the BULTASA can be found here.
You must describe the activity, the necessary zones, and the date of the activity in the letter. Also don't forget to mention the starting and ending hours of the activity too along with a cell phone number.
A scanned copy of the obtained permission by the DG CAA needs to be emailed to amc@bulatsa.com at least 8 days before the operation. For your information, the letter is also referred to as "Application for the use of airspace" on the official site of BULATSA.
Based upon the approval, the airspace management cell will produce a NOTAM message. This message is sent to the applicant along with other useful information about their approved flight as soon as it is published.
for further information about drone laws in Bulgaria you might want to visit the BULATSA website
Is it legal to transport a drone on a plane in Bulgaria?
Besides flying a drone, transporting it from one place to another can also be tricky sometimes due to the rules and regulations of different airports. You might be wondering whether or not you can take your drone with you on a flight in Bulgaria.
The answer to this is yes, you can as long as the drone is inside carry-on luggage. Apart from that, if your drone is worth more than $1000 then you can't bring it onto the plane.
Under such conditions, you might want to use third-party shipping services such as DHL, FedEx, or UPS. They will ensure your drone reaches you safely and without getting damaged.
Can I Take my Drone Batteries on a Plane in Bulgaria?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions by drone pilots. The answer to this question is that it depends on the type of battery you have.
If your drone batteries are Lithium-based (LiPo) then you can take them with you on a plane as long as each battery doesn't exceed 100 Wh. If a battery is more than 100 Wh then you will need to get special permission from the airline.
As for the other type of batteries such as NiCd, NiMH, and Li-ion, there is no limit on how many you can take with you. However, it's always best to check with the airline first before packing your drone batteries.