Fly within the rules
This page explains what aviation authorities, model-aircraft associations, racing bodies and researchers publish. It is not legal advice and not a substitute for your aviation authority's own rules, a club safety officer or proper training.
FPV drone racing sits under three layers of rules from three kinds of body. The law of the air comes from each country's aviation authority and differs from one country to the next. Model-aircraft associations write codes for their members, and in some countries hold authorisations that change what members may do. Racing rules come from the FAI and from organisers such as MultiGP, and apply only at their races. The FAI says in its own rule book that national air law takes precedence.
This section keeps those layers apart. A legal rule on these pages always names its country, authority, document and date; an association or racing rule is never presented as law; and no page says a drone or setup is legal or safe, only which authority's rule decides. These pages give no flying technique, building or configuration steps.
Which documents, which editions
| Rules | Body | Edition used on these pages |
|---|---|---|
| Racing: F9 Drone Sports (F9U racing, World Cup) | FAI | 2025 edition, effective 1 May 2025. A 2026 edition exists but could not be opened; its effective date is reported as 1 January 2026 and as 1 June 2026, both from search summaries. Any F9 rule here may have changed in 2026. |
| Racing: MultiGP classes | MultiGP (organiser) | Its class specifications page, read 30 October 2026. Its Rule Book was not read. |
| Law: United States | FAA | 49 U.S.C. 44809 (amended 16 May 2024) and 14 CFR Parts 48, 89 and 107, mainly from Cornell LII copies, with Federal Register documents and FAA talking points; faa.gov could not be opened. |
| Law: United Kingdom | CAA | The Drone and Model Aircraft Code, CAP2320, March 2026. |
| Law: European Union | EASA and national authorities | Regulation (EU) 2019/947 as adopted in 2019 (since amended; the consolidated text could not be read), plus EASA FAQs. |
| Law: Canada | Transport Canada | CARs Part IX as explained in the Aeronautical Information Manual RPA chapter, effective 19 March 2026. |
| Law: Australia | CASA | CASR Part 101 as described in CASA explanatory statements (21 October 2024) and instrument CASA.RPAS.0572 (to end of August 2027); casa.gov.au could not be opened. |
Rules change. The aviation authority's current text, the race's published rules and the officials on the day always decide.
The pages in this section
- What FPV drone racing is: the FAI's definition, goggles and the mandatory helper, and the three layers of rules.
- How a race works: the F9U circuit and safety line, qualifying, brackets, timing and penalties.
- The FAI F9U rules: the model limits article by article: 1 kg, 330 mm, 6S, 6-inch propellers, 25 mW video.
- MultiGP classes: Open, Pro Spec, Whoop, Micro, Freedom Spec and E-Sport, as one organiser's rules.
- The bodies: aviation and radio regulators, the FAI and its World Cup, MultiGP, the DRL and the associations.
- Flying with goggles and observers: each jurisdiction's line-of-sight and observer rule, then the association and racing rules.
- The law in the United States: 44809, Part 107, registration, Remote ID and ages.
- The law in the UK: Flyer ID from 100 g, Operator ID, distances, class marks and Remote ID.
- The law in the EU: Regulation 2019/947, C classes, where races sit, age 16 and Remote ID.
- The law in Canada: micro and small RPAs, certificates, FPV observers and advertised events.
- The law in Australia: CASR 101.073 and 101.245, and the MAAA's FPV approval.
- Radio rules by country: the FCC, CEPT, Ofcom, ISED and ACMA, and the racing bodies' limits.
- How people learn: tests the law requires, association schemes and simulators.
- How many people fly: each body's participation figures, with dates.
Equipment is covered in equipment, safety rules and research in safety, and terms in the glossary.
Sources
- FAI Sporting Code Section 4, Volume F9 Drone Sports, 2025 edition (effective 1 May 2025)
- FAI, SC4 volume CIAM F9 Drone sports 2026 (listed; host did not resolve, not read)
- Prism News, drone racing's 2026 rules (search-result summary only)
- MultiGP, Race Class Specifications
- Cornell LII, 49 U.S.C. 44809
- UK CAA, The Drone and Model Aircraft Code, CAP2320 (March 2026)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/947 as adopted (legislation.gov.uk copy)
- Transport Canada, Aeronautical Information Manual, RPA chapter (effective 19 March 2026)
- CASA, CASA.RPAS.0572 First Person View Operation (MAAA) Approval 2022 (copy hosted by the MAAA)
- Federal Register of Legislation, explanatory statement for CASA EX64/24 (21 October 2024)