Finland is set to introduce stringent regulations for drone pilots next year, in line with new EU guidelines.

New regulations imposed this year require all drone pilots (with the exception of those flying aircraft that do not have a camera and weigh less than 250g) to register with the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and pass an online theory test.

From February 2022 onwards, in addition to the online test, pilots of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will have to undergo an assessment conducted in a controlled environment to be able to fly drones in urban areas.

According to Traficom's estimates, around 5,000 pilots need to obtain the new permit for urban areas, but only about twenty people have passed the assessment so far.

This can be attributed to the fact that the technical system developed for the assessment came out at the end of November, and Finland currently only has eight approved test sites.

The new regulations will be applicable throughout the EU, so anyone who acquires the permit in Finland will be able to fly drones in other countries as well.

The primary aim of the new guidelines is to increase safety in light of the rapid rise in the recreational use of UAVs, particularly in populated areas.

In the future, a pilot who flies drones close to highly populated urban areas must renew their permit every five years.

From 2023, drones sold in stores will require a CE marking to ensure that they comply with the EU's new directives and regulations. Any aircraft without the marking will only be permitted in sparsely populated areas.

The EU also plans to mandate remote identification for drones in the future, which would enable authorities to determine the location of the aircraft and its pilot as well as identify the owner.