This is a real flight, made by the Drone Log team in autumn 2026. We anonymised it: we do not publish the pilot's name, the drone's serial number, the operator code or the exact coordinates. Everything else — the drone, the zone, the deadlines and what we received from the MoND (Ministry of National Defence) — is as it happened.

In short

  • Drone: DJI Neo 2, 160 g, open category.
  • Place: Popești-Leordeni, Ilfov county, near Bucharest, in a UAS zone that requires MoND clearance for filming.
  • Purpose: hobby, with filming.
  • Result: MoND clearance "AVIZATĂ" (approved), valid for one year (18 October 2026 – 18 October 2027), between 3 and 120 m, within a perimeter around the take-off point.
  • Duration: the request was submitted in AEROFOTO on 6 October and the clearance arrived on 9 October — 3 days.
  • Cost: none. The MoND clearance is free.

1. The check in Drone Log

We placed the take-off point on the map, chose the altitude and the date, and Drone Log showed that the point falls in a UAS zone with a MoND contact. Because the flight included filming, the requirement was the MoND clearance, submitted through AEROFOTO, with a deadline in working days.

The drone is under 250 g, but that does not exempt the flight from clearance: the rule depends on the zone and on filming, not on mass.

2. Preparing the request

From the check, Drone Log generated the request document and the flight area perimeter as a KML file, so we did not have to draw the area by hand in AEROFOTO. The documents were prepared on 27 September 2026.

What we had to fill in: operator and drone details, the period, the minimum and maximum altitude, the purpose and the area.

3. Submitting through AEROFOTO

The request was submitted in the MoND's AEROFOTO app on 6 October 2026, as a "Foto/video" (photo/video) record. The official service page gives an average processing time of 7 days and a maximum of 12, and the MoND asks for requests to arrive at least 7 working days before the flight.

4. The clearance

On 9 October, 3 days after submission, the answer came: AVIZATĂ (approved). The clearance covers:

  • a one-year period, from 18 October 2026 to 18 October 2027;
  • altitudes between 3 and 120 m;
  • the perimeter from the request, around the take-off point;
  • the drone declared in the request.

A clearance for a longer period is allowed: HG 859/2021 says clearances may cover one flight or a series of flights, for at most 12 months.

5. Flights in the approved period

We imported the clearance into Drone Log, which links it to the drone and the flight. For every new flight inside the perimeter, the app recognises that the MoND requirement is covered by the clearance and saves the flight against it, in the log.

The MoND stated in its communication that at most 5 flights may be made on one request; the pilot keeps track of them.

The MoND clearance does not replace the other checks: before every flight we re-checked the NOTAMs for that day.

A second request: the area did not need clearance

We sent another request through AEROFOTO, for a different area. On 8 October, the MoND replied that the area is not subject to AEROFOTO — meaning no MoND clearance was needed there.

That answer is as useful as a clearance: it is a written confirmation from the authority, which you can keep in your log next to the flight.

What we learned

  • Small drones are not exempt from clearance in MoND zones if you film. Mass matters for registration and training, not for the clearance.
  • A request for a longer period is more practical than one request per flight, within the 12-month limit.
  • The perimeter as a file saves time and mistakes when drawing the area.
  • Not every area needs clearance. If you are unsure, the MoND also replies when an area is not subject to AEROFOTO — and that reply is good evidence.
  • The real processing time was 3 days from submission, well below the official average of 7. Do not count on it: the MoND asks for requests at least 7 working days before the flight, and the maximum is 12 days.

Sources

  • MoND clearance for aerial filming / photography. defense.ro
  • Overflight authorisations and clearances for filming, photography and mapping flights — average 7 days, maximum 12. serviciipublice.gov.ro
  • Government Decision (HG) no. 859/2021, Articles 5 and 8. legislatie.just.ro

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a MoND clearance for a drone under 250 g?

If you film or photograph in a UAS zone with a MoND contact, yes. The drone's mass does not change the requirement; outside these zones, an open-category flight needs no clearance.

How long did the clearance take?

3 days from submission in AEROFOTO (6 October) to the clearance (9 October), below the official average of 7 days. Still plan by the official deadline: request at least 7 working days ahead.

Can I use the same clearance for several flights?

Yes, if the clearance covers a period and that area. HG 859/2021 allows clearances for a series of flights, for at most 12 months.

Does the MoND clearance also replace the NOTAM check?

No. Before every flight you check the NOTAMs for the day and time of the flight.

To move from theory to practice, check if you can fly or use the airspace checker. If the zone requires it, generate the approval request.