Does a camera drone under 250 grams mean we can fly it on our Spanish holiday?
Travel“It's under 250 grams. That's the whole point of this model,” Curtis says as he puts the drone beside his suitcase.
He wants beach footage during a visit to Valencia. The drone has a camera, and he has not established its regulatory classification, any applicable operator registration or the restrictions at the places he hopes to fly. His partner, Rae, has asked him to check before taking off. He thinks a small recreational device must be exempt from the paperwork.
[EASA's registration guidance](https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/the-agency/faqs/registration-requirements) makes camera and qualifying toy status relevant to the under-250-gram exceptions. Weight alone does not settle the question. [Spain's aviation authority also points operators to location-specific requirements and the ENAIRE information](https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/en/node/1529).
What should Curtis resolve before deciding whether to bring it? Rae is happy for him to enjoy his hobby, but does not want their first beach morning spent debating an assumption he could check at home.