Can you fly a drone on the Camino de Santiago?

The Camino de Santiago encompasses a set of routes that offer a wide variety of landscapes, scenes, and panoramas that often leave us in awe. If you’ve done any of the routes, you’ll know what we’re talking about, right? Every pilgrim, whether a photography lover or not, always captures many of these scenes that delight our eyes, either with their phone camera or a professional camera. Now, can you imagine those same scenes captured from a bird’s eye view? In response to this question, and as good Galicians, we reply with another: can you fly a drone on the Camino de Santiago? The answer is yes, but with some important details to consider.

What does the regulation say?

Today’s technological society offers incredible tools for our daily lives, and the recent drone technology allows us to capture fascinating shots, whether still images or moving footage. The term drone, which comes from the English word drone (“male bee”), is defined by the dictionary as “unmanned aircraft.” It is, therefore, an unmanned aerial vehicle, which flies without crew or pilot, as they perform their role remotely.

A drone allows you to capture unique bird’s-eye images

However, we are talking about a type of remote-controlled aircraft that is not a toy, and depending on its characteristics, it will be subject to the current regulations, governed by the European Union. The State Agency for Air Safety (AESA) makes this regulation available on its website, which has been in effect since December 31, 2020, and introduced some changes, such as no longer distinguishing between professional or recreational flights. Let’s look at the details.

First of all, as with a driver’s license, one basic requirement is age. Children under 12 can fly a drone under the supervision of an adult; up to 14 years old, supervision is no longer required, as long as it’s for recreational use. From 16 years old, you can fly a drone.

Both adults and children can fly a drone, but with limitations

Next, you should consider the weight of the aircraft: to fly a drone weighing more than 250 grams, you will need to prove you have training, meaning you must pass online exams from AESA, depending on the category you wish to fly (level 1 or 2). This certification allows you to fly in all European airspace. However, and here’s the good news, if it weighs less than 250 grams, you can fly it without any certification, which makes flying a drone on the Camino de Santiago possible.

A drone is an aircraft and, as such, it should be flown responsibly

Indeed, now that we know you can fly a drone on the Jacobean routes, remember that responsibility and common sense are inherent in flying a drone, just like any other vehicle. In this regard, you must keep in mind a few limitations:

• you must always keep visual contact with the aircraft, except for some specific categories;
• you cannot exceed 120 meters in altitude, nor 50 meters horizontally;
• if you are near an airport, airfield, or controlled airspace, you must stay at least 8 kilometers away;
• you cannot fly over protected natural areas, such as National Parks, wildlife conservation zones, or Biosphere Reserves;
• do not violate the Data Protection Law and respect the Right to Privacy and Honor of people who may be recorded by the drone’s camera;
• civil liability insurance is not mandatory, but it’s recommended: in case of damage, you will be liable.

A pilgrim flying a drone

Some examples

Since 2018, the Xunta de Galicia has developed a drone project that provides cardiovascular assistance to pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. This medical drone is called Lúa, and it has telematics services for pilgrim assistance, a medical kit with medications, 5G glasses, and an automated external defibrillator. In case of an emergency, you must call 061, and through geolocation, Lúa will reach the incident site, and the person or pilgrim attending to the patient must wear the glasses, which will allow technicians to see what is happening and guide them on what to do.

Lúa, the Camino drone

We haven’t flown a drone on the Camino de Santiago, but we have seen pilgrims doing so. During the pilgrimage of the “I’ll Push You” project, there was a drone pilot who offered the project breathtaking aerial images. One of the most impressive shots we remember is the arrival at Portomarín, on the French Way, crossing the new bridge.

Yes, you can fly a drone on the Camino de Santiago

No, you don’t have to climb a tree or a church bell tower to get stunning shots, you could fall and hurt yourself! DDiscover the Camino de Santiago with a drone, now that you know it’s possible, but always with “sentidiño,” as they say in Galicia.

¡Ultreia et suseia, never better said!