Use of scientific UAV, AUV and USV

For information regarding the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs – commonly referred to as drones) on Svalbard, please refer to the guidelines provided by the Governor of Svalbard:

Drones on Svalbard – The Governor of Svalbard

It is also critical that you familiarise yourself with the information linked to on the Governor’s webpage from The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), The Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM), and other relevant agencies.

Rules for UAVs in the Local Traffic Information Zone

Please be aware of the restrictions that apply to UAV usage in the Local Traffic Information Zone around Kings Bay Airport, which require prior coordination and contact with the airport before each flight. For more details, please read the information provided by Kings Bay here.

Insurance Requirements

All UAVs (drones), except for those classified as CE-marked toys, are required to be insured in compliance with (EC) No 785/2004, according to regulations from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). For more information about the insurance requirements, please visit the CAA’s website here.

Local coordination in Ny-Ålesund Research Station

When multiple UAVs plan to operate within the same area, coordination is crucial to avoid conflicts between projects and aviation activity. Additionally, UAVs utilising frequencies between 2-32 GHz can be operated only if (1) users have the necessary permits from Nkom, and (2) users coordinate with the scheduled measurements of the Norwegian Mapping Authority (NMA) (see the 24-hour calendar and the 1-hour intensive calendar).

To facilitate coordination, we have established a shared overview dedicated to upcoming UAV projects. This overview will serve as a platform for researchers to:

• Check Scheduled Operations: View upcoming UAV projects in the table below and their respective time slots in designated areas.
• Coordinate Efforts to minimize overlap: Contact other teams whose projects may overlap and discuss possible adjustments to schedules. Plan to avoid conducting UAV operations in the same area at the same time.

By promoting transparency and collaboration, we aim to ensure efficient UAV operations that benefit all research efforts at Ny-Ålesund. We encourage all teams to check the calendar regularly and to communicate proactively about their flight plans.

Note that flight time will be significantly less restricted if your UAV’s communication system utilizes frequencies outside of 2-32 GHz.

Any AUVs or USVs utilising Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other radio frequencies in the 2-32 GHz band must adhere to the procedures for RF use at Ny-Ålesund Research Station. Please refer to the link at the top of this page for further details. We remind all researchers to be aware of the Norwegian Mapping Authority’s (NMA) schedule, which limits the number of days and hours per week that frequencies within this band can be utilised.