150m max height
Don't fly over crowds
Don't fly near airports
Only line of sight
All Drone Laws in Finland in 2020 (Ultimate Guide)
This is a guide for Finnish drone laws in 2020 (updated every year) where you'll get a clue about what you can or shouldn't do while flying and travelling through this country.
Table of Contents
Are drones legal in Finland?
Yes. Drones are legal in Finland. Finland stands out as a good place for drone pilots as its laws are liberal. You can easily socialize with the drone community in Rovaniemi, Inari, and Helsinki.
The town of Kemi is off-limits to drone users. For questions on the regulatory requirements of Finnish drones, check out info@dronerules.eu.
The body overlooking Finnish drone laws is Traficom
For any inquiries, Contact
Email kirjaamo@trafi.fi
Tel: +358-295345000
What are the drone laws in Finland?
The rules and regulation is quite clear and concise compared to many countries, and if you make sure to respect the following rules, you're good to go.
Any other rule I might have left out can be downloaded.
Line of sightYou must maintain visual line of sight when flying the drone.- No flying near airportsYou cannot fly closer than 1km to the airport without getting approval from a control tower.
- Don't fly over crowdsDo not fly over any person or moving vehicle
- Height limit of 150mDo not fly your drone above 150 meters. Fly within the airport control zone but maintain a 3 Km distance away from the runways. The maximum distance of flight is 50 meters. Do not fly your drone above a crowd of people. Always maintain a 50-meter gap.
- Contact infoDrones should be marked with numbers and contact information
- InsuranceTake insurance on third party damage
- No night flyingDo not fly at night unless your drone has lighting
How are drones classified in Finland?
Flying over any gathering of people is a preserve of the security agencies. This covers sports areas, concerts, and events. However, there are special situations where it can be allowed.
What are the rules around recreational drones?
- Is not used for commercial activities
- Keeps off not industrial sites and urban centers
- Maintains flight within a visual line of sight.
- Limits operations to daytime hours.
- Recreational drone pilots should operate under the Aviation act 864 of 2014.
- Operate with liability coverage.
- Keep off urban areas, clouds, and other restricted areas.
- Your drone should weigh less than 25 Kg.
- Switchboard must have a manual override.
What are the rules around model aircraft drones?
- A model aircraft drone is also not used for commercial activities.
- Flight must be within line of sight.
- Usually operated during the day
- The pilots must adhere to the regulations set out on the Aviation act 864 of 2014.
- The user should not have a fully automated switchboard (must have a manual override make)
- Avoid flying the drone towards clouds, urban areas, industries, and other restricted sites.
- Operate with 3rd party liability insurance.
What are the rules around model aircraft drones?
- A professional drone is used for scientific, commercial and manufacturer testing.
- They have the authorization to fly over urban areas and industrial sites
- They can fly for long distances - beyond the visual line of sight.
Can I get the drone app information on an app?
There is an app developed by the Finnish Transport Safety Agency, which gives you all the information necessary when flying your drone.
To qualify for the professional drone category, one must:
- Get registered nationally and abide by the Aviation Act of 864 in 2014.
- Operate under a national identity
- Operate an automated flight control equipped with a manual override.
- Have 3rd party liability insurance.
What are the restricted areas for flying drones in Finland?
Areas that are off access for drone pilots are oil refineries, nuclear plants, military installations, and government areas.
To fly your drone close to an aerodrome, you will require permission from a watchtower operator. You can get this authorization here.
DJI drone owners will find that their drones are unable to take off when around restricted drone areas.
Is Finland expecting tough new laws on drones?
New stricter aviation laws are expected to go into effect this March. The new laws will give police the ability to stop drones from flying around emergency sites, nuclear sites and other strategic installations like airports.
How can I register a drone in Finland?
Drone registration is once a year and must be done before you fly within the country. As part of the process, you are to enter the personal details of you and the drone on an application form available online.
Can I be penalized?
The amount fined or the extent of your punishment will be arrived at based on the severity of your infringement.
What are my top drones to fly safely in Finland?
My following two recommendations are 2 great compact drones that are quite silent and also small enough to travel with and not stand out as annoying.
1.Dji Mavic Mini - The best international travel drone (under 250g)
I have covered it much more in depth in my article review and even compared it with the DJI Spark and Mavic Air.
Advantages
- 30 min battery life
- under 250g
- super portable
- 4km range
- can edit videos in the app
DISAdvantages
- no obstacle avoidance
- no settings for iso and shutter speed
2.Dji Mavic Air 2 - My favorite drone overall
DJI lowered it's price since it was first released.
Advantages
- 3 way sensors
- 68kph (fastest among the 3)
- follow me mode(quite a few options)
- 8gb internal storage
- ISo & shutter speed settings
- 6 photo modes
- takes RAW photos
- 100mbps bitrate
DISAdvantages
- battery life ins't that amazing
Restricted Areas and Geofencing (drone FLying map)
The best way to figure out what areas you can fly in, while you're here is by consulting DJI offilicial map.
They do a great job mapping the places that one should avoid while flying in every country:
- airports
- military bases
- prisons
- power plants
- any high risk areas
