The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (hereinafter referred to as: “PANSA”) and the Civil Aviation Authority (hereinafter referred to as: “CAA”) have introduced the National UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) Information System (hereinafter referred to as: “NUIS”). The system was created to facilitate registration procedures for both drone operators and pilots. What are the changes awaiting UAV operators?

Existing solutions

DUntil the NUIS was implemented, UAV operators/pilots could use the CAA government website at: https://drony.ulc.gov.pl/. Flights were reported via the website (Check-In PANSA) run by PANSA. At the beginning of April, the former website https://drony.ulc.gov.pl/ ceased to serve its function, and now those wishing to register as UAV operators must use a new platform (https://drony.gov.pl/).

New drone registration system

As of April 4, 2024, NUIS was launched. This platform includes all key services for drone pilots, including registration and online training. The system offers operators many options, providing convenient access to information and facilitating the handling of selected administrative matters. Among its key features are:

• a new UAV operator registration;
• providing all information about current authorizations and qualifications;
• automatic reminders from the system about upcoming expiration dates of authorizations;
• secure data authentication and electronic document signing;
• an extensive database of UAV manufacturers and models, making it easy to add devices to a user’s account;
• submitting declarations, obtaining permits from the CAA, as well as obtaining information about one’s rights;
• introducing a dedicated communicator to quickly contact the CAA staff on specific issues;
• online training, including electronic completion of training and tests in the A1/A3 subcategories of the open category.

New drone Tower App

On April 15, a new official application developed by PANSA for reporting UAV flights in Poland had its premiere. According to current regulations, before each flight of a drone weighing more than 250 grams, the operator/pilot is required to obtain permission from PANSA for the flight. The new app makes it easier to make such notifications. Previously, UAV operators had to use a third-party app. Moreover, the new app is available for both IOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play). It offers operators several facilities, including:

• quick check-in;
• weather and geographic zone data, and
• updated pop-up alerts providing information on, among others, mission changes or new geographic zones.

For more information on the new application, visit https://drony.gov.pl/drone-tower.

Practitioners’ opinion

According to Jabłoński Koźmiński Law Firm’s experts, the changes introduced by launching NUIS and the debut of the Drone Tower app are a response to the growing demands of the industry and the needs of both operators and pilots of UAVs. These tools not only have the potential to streamline the process of registration and management of operations but also provide more convenient access to information and increase the safety of drone flights.

Lawyers at Jabłoński Koźmiński Law Firm are experienced in handling complex cases and advising in aviation law, including unmanned aerial vehicles. Should you have any questions or doubts regarding the issue, please feel free to contact us.