The very simple answer is: yes. But, of course, licenses and permits are required which depend on the category of your drone and where you want to fly on Sithonia. Operating a drone in Greece is allowed per the regulations of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA). It’s essential to familiarize oneself with the laws and regulations regarding drone usage in Greece before flying to ensure compliance and safe operation.
Complete guidelines on how to get a permit to fly a drone in Greece
We all know that Greece is a member of the EU, therefore its regulations for managing unmanned aircraft are aligned with the regulations of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). These are the two steps you must follow to fly your drone in Sithonia:
Step 1: A1-A3 (or A2) license and UAS Operator Registration
Before requesting a flight permit from the authorities in Greece, you must have passed the exam and have an active A1-A3 or A2 license (depending on the drone you are using). These exams are now taken online and their prices vary, so look them up on the internet and in drone enthusiasts’ associations in Greece. The exam itself is not difficult, you will receive lessons that you need to learn, and then you will answer questions.
To obtain a flight permit on Sithonia, for drones weighing up to 1 kg (e.g. Mavic PRO 2 907g) an A1-A3 license will generally be sufficient, as you will be flying above beaches and in nature, where there are no large groups of people (which we also recommend you to mention in the note if you have a drone over 250g).
In addition, for drones that weigh more than 250g, you are required to have a valid UAS Operator Registration, which is also purchased online and is valid for 5 years. The price is around 130 euros.
On this link, you can find all official addresses, in all EU countries, where you can take the exams for licenses and obtain a UAS Operator Registration:
https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/civil-drones/naa
We recommend that you always research well before taking the exam, and the drone enthusiasts association in Greece is large and very active on this Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/146320105987441
Step 2: HCAA online application for permission
Once you have obtained all licenses, you must complete an online form and submit it via email to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA). The link for the online form can be found here: http://www.ypa.gr/en/HCAA_UAS_FLT_request_editable.pdf
The email address to which you should send the completed form (request) can be found within the form itself. If not, send it to: info.dagr@hasp.gov.gr We recommend that you be concise and provide exact information about dates, flight plans, etc. The Greek authorities will respond to you within a maximum of 7 days, most commonly within 24-48 hours.
Here you can also view an interactive map of Greece, which marks the regions according to the criteria for flying unmanned aircraft: https://dagr.hcaa.gr/#map_page
Besides this, you must comply with some general regulations related to flying drones, such as; drones may not be flown over people, prisons, hospitals, government and military facilities, and other sensitive areas.
With all these permissions and proper registration of the drone at the borders, you are safe and can enjoy the beautiful shots of Greece and Sithonia without worry. Have a pleasant flight!
do you know what the penalties are if you fly without a license? I think many tourists fly without permits