Cork City Drone Zone to Become Permanent as IAA Drops Extra Coordination Rules for Visual Pilots
IAA makes Cork drone safety zone permanent; VLOS pilots freed from extra coordination requirements as BVLOS flights still need advance authorisation.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has announced it will establish a permanent drone safety zone over Cork City, following a public consultation that received 662 submissions, approximately 95% of which came from the Cork region.
The zone, known as the Cork Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Geographical Zone (UGZ T2), was originally introduced as a temporary measure to manage the risk of drone operations beyond the pilot's direct line of sight in Cork's skies. Cork City lies entirely within the Cork Airport Control Zone, a busy and complex segment of controlled airspace used by passenger flights, emergency aircraft, flight training, and drones.
Following a review of both safety assessments and consultation feedback, the IAA has confirmed a significant easing of requirements for everyday drone users. The additional advance coordination requirement for Visual Line-of-Sight (VLOS) flights within the T2 zone will be removed, meaning VLOS drone operators will simply continue to follow standard drone safety rules without any added paperwork or permissions.
BVLOS operations will still require explicit IAA approval, as these beyond-line-of-sight operations carry higher risk and complexity.
While many submissions raised broader concerns about drone activity, including privacy, noise, environmental impact, drone deliveries, and fair access to airspace, fewer than one in ten responses directly addressed the technical aspects of the proposed zone itself. The IAA noted these wider concerns but clarified they form part of a larger national policy framework for drones rather than decisions about a specific safety zone.
The IAA has emphasised that a UAS Geographical Zone is purely an airspace safety tool. It does not rezone or change airspace ownership, does not make planning or commercial decisions, and by itself does not authorise any specific drone project or delivery service.
The Cork UGZ T2 will be formally established on a long-term basis as a "Safety Information" zone, with the IAA acting as controlling authority. A revised Aeronautical Notice detailing the permanent zone and its operating conditions is due to be published no later than 14 May 2026.
The consultation report and full response document are available at iaa.ie/consultation.
