Regulation of Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Operations Updated

On August 7, 2025, the Argentine Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) issued Resolution 550/2025, updating the regulations applicable to Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).

An RPA is an unmanned aircraft operated from a remote piloting station. An RPAS, in turn, includes not only the aircraft but also its associated remote piloting stations, command, and control links, and any other components included in its design. Commonly known as “drones,” RPA and RPAS may be used for recreational, commercial, scientific, security, or even cargo transport purposes. 

The regulation of these operations seeks to reduce risks (such as collisions or interference with manned aircraft), protect people and property on the ground, and ensure the safe use of drones within national airspace.

The Resolution approves the Second Edition of Part 100 of the Argentine Civil Aviation Regulations (RAAC), establishing the General Requirements for the Operation of RPAs and RPAS. It also introduces two new regulatory frameworks differentiated by category:

•    Part 101, Open Category: This governs lower-risk operations that do not require prior authorization or operational declaration from the operator before execution, or those carried out exclusively in rural areas or within the operator’s visual line of sight. In these cases, registration of the RPA/RPAS in the Argentine Aircraft Registry, a remote pilot license, or certification of the RPA/RPAS operator will not be mandatory. However, the operator must adopt all reasonable technical and operational measures to ensure an acceptable level of safety.

•    Part 102, Specific Category: This applies to more complex or higher-risk operations, such as flights in urban areas, nighttime operations, flights near airports, or cargo transport, among others. These operations require the aviation authority’s prior authorization, a pilot’s license, operator certification, and mandatory liability insurance coverage, among other requirements.

At the same time, the former Part 101 of the RAAC (which regulated captive balloons, kites, amateur rockets, and unmanned free balloons) has been reclassified as Part 32.

The new regulatory framework adopts a risk-based approach, in line with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Latin American Aeronautical Regulations.

Within this framework, Resolution 550 repeals Resolutions 880/2019, 885/2019, 319/2025, and 334/2025. It forms part of the broader transformation process aimed at ensuring operational safety as the core principle of the aviation activity, promoting free competition, preventing monopolistic practices, and fostering professionalization of the sector and technological innovation.

This measure responds to the modernization and deregulation process promoted by the Federal Government through Decree 70/2023, to align with international standards, while prioritizing operational safety, competitiveness, and regulatory simplification.