Reference: EU Regulation 2019/947, Article 2 definitions, points 7/8.
VLOS vs. BVLOS at a glance
| VLOS | BVLOS | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Direct visual contact with the drone | Flight outside direct sight |
| Category (EU) | Open category (typical) | Specific category |
| Approval | Standard open-category rules | Authority approval or LUC |
| Risk if violated | Fines possible | Insurance void · criminal/admin fines |
Visual line of sight operation (VLOS)
In this UAS operation type, the remote pilot maintains uninterrupted and unaided visual contact with the unmanned aircraft and steers the path to avoid collisions with:
- other aircraft
- people
- obstacles
The term "uninterrupted" is decisive: if the pilot looks at the control display and breaks direct sight, they are already in BVLOS. This happens quickly — for example during optical or thermal inspection of photovoltaic systems.
Beyond visual line of sight operation (BVLOS)
This operation type is not conducted in VLOS. If a flight that belongs in the specific category (BVLOS) is wrongly flown in the open category (VLOS):
- the drone's liability insurance becomes void
- it counts as dangerous interference with air traffic (§ 315 StGB) — imprisonment from 6 months to 10 years possible
- fines of up to EUR 50,000 may apply (aviation law / EU 2019/947)
Liability in companies
Not only the pilot is liable under aviation law, but also:
- the supervisor who ordered the flight (e.g. department head, flight ops manager, training lead)
- the managing director if supervisory and duty-of-care obligations were breached
Many companies are unaware of this financial and liability risk.
Solution: training for the specific category
With our training programme for the specific category (BVLOS) you can conduct flights safely and in compliance with the law.