How to use Drone-Check

What is Drone-Check?

Drone-Check shows planned, active, and recent drone flights in your area. It is a fully user-generated, community-driven tool — every flight you see has been voluntarily shared by its pilot.

⚠️ Important Notice

The pilot is fully responsible for ensuring that each flight complies with all local restrictions, technical requirements and legal obligations. Drone-Check only displays submitted data and does not validate airspace constraints or regulatory compliance. A flight announcement is not a replacement for official authorization.

Pilots remain fully responsible for obtaining all required permissions and clearances before flying.

By submitting a flight, you confirm that you understand and agree to these conditions.

Is Drone-Check free to use?

Yes. Drone-Check is completely free to use for everyone.

Anyone can use the website to search for drone flights, and both the website and the mobile apps can be used to create, manage or delete flights without any cost.

No subscription, account or payment is required for normal use.

Are there integrations with other drone tools?

Not yet. Drone-Check currently has no automatic integrations with DroneGuide, GoDrone, U-space systems or other mapping tools. All data is submitted manually by pilots themselves.

However, an API is available that allows integration with existing systems to automatically create and display flights on the map. Live tracking of flights is also available via MQTT.

For professional or enterprise use cases, contact info@drone-check.eu.

How do I announce a flight?

1. Click “Announce a flight” on the homepage.(Mobile or Desktop)
2. Drop the pin on the map.
3. Enter time, drone model, altitude, radius, and any notes.
4. Submit — your flight becomes visible immediately.

How do I edit or remove a flight?

After submitting, you receive a private edit link. This link lets you update all details or delete the flight. No account required — keep the link safe.

How does privacy work?

You choose what becomes public. If “Show my name publicly” is enabled, your contact details appear on the public page. If disabled, your flight is listed as Anonymous operator.

How does the email confirmation work?

If you enter an email address (or add or change one later), you’ll receive a confirmation message with a private management link for your flight.

This does not affect your optional anonymity on the public map. It only ensures you can update or adjust your flight later if needed.

What happens to my contact information?

Contact details are only used to deliver your private edit link. They are never shown publicly unless you explicitly enable that option.

Can I move the flight location later?

Yes. In the edit page, drag the marker to its new place — the radius updates automatically.

Why do flights show “Active”, “Upcoming”, or “Past”?

Drone-Check automatically classifies flights based on the current time.

Do I need an account?

No — the private edit link is your only key.

Is Drone-Check an official government platform?

No. Drone-Check is an independent project intended to increase transparency and reduce misunderstandings between pilots and residents.

How long is flight data visible?

All flight data is automatically deleted after 7 days. Pilots can schedule flights far in advance, but only flights in the next 7 days are displayed on the site.

QR Poster for Pilots

Stakeholder notification email

In some situations, pilots are expected or encouraged to inform local authorities, municipalities, landowners or other stakeholders about a planned drone operation.

Drone-Check provides a built-in Flight Mail Generator that helps you create a clear, professional and neutral notification email based on your published flight.

• The message is generated from your flight data on Drone-Check
• It follows a fixed, legally neutral structure
• Available in multiple European languages
• No data is sent automatically — you stay in control
• Only available for archived flights not older then 2 days or planned flights up to 7 days

You simply select a language, copy the subject and message, and send it using your own email client.

The generated email includes:

• Date of the operation
• A public Drone-Check flight link
• A clear explanation of the purpose and scope of the flight
• Optional operator contact details (if provided)

This helps reduce misunderstandings and avoids repetitive explanations, without replacing any legal authorization or official reporting.

Open Flight Mail Generator

Enterprise Operators

API Flight Publishing & Live tracking

For organizations that operate drones at scale.

Enterprise users with recurring operations can integrate directly with Drone-Check via the API to automatically publish flights from their own systems.

This removes manual work and ensures consistent, structured, and compliant communication of drone activity.

API-based access is intended for professional and enterprise use cases.

For professional operations that require real-time visibility.

Beyond flight publishing, enterprise users can optionally enable live tracking, allowing real-time position updates to be visualized on Drone-Check via MQTT.

This supports:

• Operational transparency
• Public reassurance
• Internal monitoring or coordination

Live tracking is optional, controlled and designed with strict data-minimization principles.

Third-Party Platforms & Integrations

For ecosystems that want to include drone awareness.

Drone-Check can also act as a data source for third-party platforms. Through controlled access, external applications — such as pilot tools, planning software, or situational-awareness systems — can retrieve basic flight data and integrate it into their own workflows or maps.

This enables a broader ecosystem where drone activity is visible, predictable, and responsibly shared.

If you’re interested in integrating Drone-Check into your tools, have a look at our Products & Pricing and don’t hesitate to contact us at info@drone-check.eu.

Drone-Check in real-world operations

Drones have become a visible part of everyday life: above buildings, over fields, along infrastructure, inside nature areas, and during events. Whenever a drone is in the air, it is noticed — by employees, residents, passers-by, visitors, or authorities.

Drone-Check was created to support that visibility with clear, verifiable and shareable flight information. Not technical. Not legal. But practical: who is flying, where, why, and for how long.

Drone-Check is free to use for all users of the website and mobile apps. Any operator can create and share flight information without cost or subscription barriers.

Below are examples of how Drone-Check is used in real-world situations today.

Building maintenance, mapping and inspections

A drone flight above an office building or apartment block often takes place during working hours. Employees arrive at work, suppliers access the site, residents move in and out. The drone is visible, but there is no single moment to explain the flight to everyone.

With Drone-Check:

• A QR code is displayed at the entrance or site access
• Scanning the code opens a public flight page showing:
  • A short description of the flight
  • Start and end time
  • Operational area
  • Operator contact details
• The same link can be shared in advance by email with:
  • Facility management
  • Building managers
  • Syndic or property management

The flight page acts as a permanent, silent information point during the operation.

Industrial sites and technical infrastructure

Industrial environments involve many stakeholders: staff, contractors, security teams, logistics operators. Drone flights are part of larger operational workflows.

With Drone-Check:

• Flights are created in advance
• Security and site managers receive one fixed reference link
• The link can be shared internally
• A QR code can be placed at site entrances or on temporary installations

Everyone consults the same live information, before, during and after the flight. The record remains available once the operation is completed.

Agriculture and open rural areas

Drone flights above farmland are often visible from walking paths, cycling routes, or nearby homes. People notice the drone without knowing its context.

With Drone-Check:

• A single flight page explains:
  • The type of operation
  • The time window
  • The specific area involved
• A QR code can be placed at the field boundary or on the operator’s vehicle
• The link can be shared in advance with:
  • The municipality
  • Local contacts or partners

Communication remains open and passive, without the need for on-site explanations.

Nature areas and conservation zones

Nature reserves and forests attract hikers, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Drone flights naturally draw attention, even when part of conservation or monitoring activities.

With Drone-Check:

• The flight page provides context and purpose
• It may include:
  • Collaboration with land managers
  • Limited duration
  • Defined operational zones
• QR codes can be displayed on information boards, vehicles, or temporary signage
• Links can be shared with:
  • Land managers
  • Municipalities
  • Partner organisations

Drone operations become understandable within their environment, without repeated explanations.

Search & Rescue and operational deployments

During operational or emergency deployments, clarity and coordination are essential. Multiple parties may be involved over short timeframes.

With Drone-Check:

• A flight page is created per drone or operation
• The flight status is clearly visible
• Links can be shared with:
  • Responding services
  • Land or site managers
• Pages can be public or restricted, depending on the situation

The flight page serves as a shared reference point, including for post-operation documentation.

Construction sites, events and temporary locations

Construction sites and events involve many temporary visitors: suppliers, staff, guests, and the general public. Explaining drone flights individually is not realistic.

With Drone-Check:

• Flights are announced in advance via a single link
• QR codes are displayed at strategic locations
• Flight pages clearly show:
  • The purpose of the flight
  • Duration
  • Responsible operator
• Links can be shared with:
  • Event organisers
  • Local authorities
  • Police services

Drone flights become an integrated part of the organisation, not an isolated activity.

Film crews & audiovisual productions

Film and TV productions often combine multiple departments: camera crews, assistants, production staff, location managers, and external partners. Drone flights are part of a larger setup and are frequently visible to the public.

With Drone-Check:

• A dedicated flight page is created per shooting day or location
• The page clearly states:
  • That the drone is part of a film or media production
  • The shooting window
  • The operational area
• QR codes can be placed:
  • Near set signage
  • At street access points
  • On production vehicles
• The link can be shared in advance with:
  • The city or municipality
  • Local police
  • Location owners
  • Production coordinators

Drone-Check provides a single, neutral information source that supports on-set organisation without interrupting the shoot.

Municipalities and local authorities

Local authorities increasingly receive questions about drone activity in their area. Drone-Check offers a straightforward overview without adding administrative complexity.

With Drone-Check:

• Authorities can receive links to planned flights in advance
• Any inquiry can be answered by consulting:
  • Location
  • Timing
  • Responsible operator
• No additional reporting or workflow is required

Drone-Check functions as an information layer, not an extra approval system.

Recreational use

Recreational drone flights are part of modern outdoor life: in nature, along the coast, during hikes, or while travelling.

With Drone-Check:

• Hobby flights can also have a simple flight page
• QR codes can be attached to backpacks, drone cases or vehicles
• Anyone interested can immediately see:
  • Who is flying
  • Where
  • For how long

This supports calm, responsible and transparent recreational flying.

In summary

• One flight page
• One QR code
• One link that can be shared with everyone who needs it

Drone-Check does not replace regulation, training or authorisations. It complements them by adding one essential layer: clear communication to the outside world.

Drone-Check is free for all users of the website and mobile apps, making transparent communication accessible to every drone operator.