Can I fly my drone near an airport?
Near an airport or an aerodrome there is almost always a zone restricting flight, but there is no single distance: each facility publishes its own zone, with its own shape and the height at which it applies. And in many cases it is not a ban but a condition. What almost nobody distinguishes is who you coordinate with: an aerodrome security zone is discussed with its manager, and controlled airspace with the air traffic service provider and, where applicable, with control.
In short
- The «five kilometres» figure that circulates online is not the rule: in Spain the dimensions are set by article 41 of RD 517/2024, and in other countries each aerodrome publishes its own.
- Zones are not flat circles: they follow the actual flight paths and have height, so a point may be restricted at one hundred metres and allowed at thirty.
- In Spain the aerodrome zones are article 41 of RD 517/2024 and have fixed dimensions; controlled airspace and flight information zones are article 42, where flying is forbidden unless it is within sight and below 60 metres, or you coordinate with the air traffic service provider.
- In Portugal the international airports have rings capping the open category at 30, 60 and 80 metres, plus a Prohibited Area.
- Many small aerodromes, ultralight airfields and heliports do not appear on an ordinary map and do create a restriction.
Where the number you were told comes from
Almost everyone has heard a distance: five kilometres, eight, fifteen. Those figures are inherited from earlier regulations or from other countries, and today they do not describe reality well.
What does exist are geographical zones published by the State, drawn around each aerodrome according to its actual flight paths. Two airports of the same size can have zones of very different shape, and a small one can have a longer zone along its runway direction than a large airport has across it.
Zones have height, not only surface
An aerodrome zone is not a flat patch on a map: it is a volume. It commonly restricts above a certain height and leaves margin below it, precisely because what it protects is the path of manned aircraft.
The Portuguese case shows it clearly: around the international airports, the open category reaches 30, 60 or 80 metres depending on the ring. A map that only draws the surface is not enough to decide, and it is the reason AXPA renders zones in three dimensions.
Who you coordinate with, which is not always the same body
This is the distinction most often confused and the one that decides your job's lead time. In Spain, aerodrome and heliport zones are article 41 of RD 517/2024 and controlled airspace and flight information zones are article 42; the procedure for coordinating with either is article 43, and it requires an express affirmative reply from every manager and provider affected, not merely having asked.
They are two different counterparts, with different channels and lead times, and the same point can sit in both zones at once. For those flying regularly in controlled airspace there is the EARO agreement with ENAIRE, signed per operator and concept of operations instead of flight by flight.
The aerodromes you do not see
Everyone knows the large airports. The problem is the rest: general aviation aerodromes, ultralight airfields, hospital helipads, emergency helicopter bases and firefighting air bases. Many do not appear on an ordinary map and all of them can create a restriction.
In Portugal, for instance, ultralight airfields require authorisation from the airfield manager and have no air traffic service: separation depends entirely on that coordination. And hospital heliports can activate without warning, so seeing no traffic is not a valid check.
Restricted does not always mean forbidden
This is the part most people are unaware of. Many aerodrome zones are conditional: they allow the flight if you coordinate beforehand, sometimes with a notice period of days and a specific form. And several have activation schedules, so the restriction may depend on the time slot.
Knowing whether your case is a ban, a procedure or a height cap changes the whole plan of a job. AXPA tells you which of the three it is at that exact point, with the relevant authority, instead of painting everything red.
Frequently asked questions
See all questions- What is the minimum distance to an airport?
- There is no single one. It depends on the zone published for that specific aerodrome, which has its own shape and height. Consult the zone, not a general figure.
- What if the airport is closed at night?
- Some zones are permanently active and others follow operating hours. That is a property of the zone itself and must be checked: assuming a closed airport frees the airspace is a common mistake.
- Who exactly do I have to talk to?
- It depends on the zone. An aerodrome security zone is coordinated with the manager of that facility; controlled airspace with the air traffic service provider, and inside a CTR control authorisation is required. AXPA identifies which applies and what it asks for.
- Can I fly near a hospital helipad?
- There is usually a restriction, and in Portugal most heliports forbid overflight. Medical traffic is also unpredictable by nature: it is one of the environments where avoiding the flight is wise even if the map does not expressly forbid it.
- Is my drone manufacturer's app enough?
- Manufacturer geofencing helps, but it is not the rule: it updates at its own pace, does not cover every zone and does not replace official information. The fact that your drone lets you take off does not mean you may.
Keep reading
This guide is general information and planning support, not legal advice and not a flight authorisation. Regulations change and every country adds its own conditions. Before taking off, always check the official sources for your jurisdiction and current aeronautical information. The remote pilot in command is solely responsible for the flight.