---
title: "GM1 Article 3 Categories of UAS operations — Cover Regulation to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, UAS · Avioverse"
description: "BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE CATEGORIES OF UAS OPERATIONS (a) Boundary between ‘open’ and ‘specific’ A UAS operation does not belong to the ‘open’ category…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/uas/cover-regulation-to-implementing-regulation-eu/powers-and-recitals/gm1-article-3"
---

# GM1 Article 3 Categories of UAS operations

Cover Regulation to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 · Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945 · EAR revision 29 Jun 2026

GM Guidance material

## GM1 Article 3 Categories of UAS operations

BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE CATEGORIES OF UAS OPERATIONS

(a) Boundary between ‘open’ and ‘specific’

A UAS operation does not belong to the ‘open’ category when at least one of the general criteria listed in Article 4 of the UAS Regulation is not met (e.g. when operating beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)) or when the detailed criteria for a subcategory are not met (e.g. operating a 10 kg UA close to people when subcategory A2 is limited to 4 kg UA).

(b) Boundary between ‘specific’ and ‘certified’

Article 6 of the UAS Regulation and Article 40 of Regulation (EU) 2019/945 define the boundary between the ‘specific’ and the ‘certified’ category. The first article defines the boundary from an operational perspective, while the second one defines the technical characteristics of the UA, and they should be read together.

A UAS operation belongs to the ‘certified’ category when, based on the risk assessment, the competent authority considers that the risk cannot be mitigated adequately without the:

certification of the airworthiness of the UAS;

certification of the UAS operator; and licensing of the [remote pilot](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/remote-pilot), unless the UAS is fully autonomous.

UAS operations are always considered to be in the ‘certified’ category when they:

are conducted over [assemblies of people](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/assemblies-of-people) with a UA that has characteristic dimensions of 3 m or more; or involve the transport of people; or involve the carriage of dangerous goods that may result in a high risk for third parties in the event of an accident.

GM · GM1 Article 3 — Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945 · ED Decision 2019/021/R · UAS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 29 Jun 2026

[All rules in Powers and recitals](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/uas/cover-regulation-to-implementing-regulation-eu/powers-and-recitals)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 29 Jun 2026, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.