Bulb fields in bands of colour, seen from the air.

Fly yourself.

What you need to fly your own fields, in Belgium and the Netherlands. Drone, certificate, insurance and the workflow in your account.

Unsure about your setup? Send us a photo

What you need.

Everything you need to know to get started yourself. From drone and pilot licence to costs and flight time.

Drone

DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral.

The drone we recommend for reliable imagery.

For a task map every image has to sit on the map to the centimetre. Only RTK gets you there, and you need an RGB camera with a mechanical shutter. This drone has both on board and is the drone flying in our network. It flies a grid pattern automatically and covers about 15 hectares per hour, depending on field shape and flight height. Another drone works too, if it meets the same specs.

Estimated investment

Drone, RTK module, controller and spare batteries± €5,000

Indicative price including VAT, September 2026. Prices vary per dealer.

More info about the drone
The DJI Mavic 3 head on, with the camera and sensors in view.

  • 01

    Your pilot licence.

    For fieldwork the free online A1/A3 certificate is enough. You then fly in subcategory A3: at least 150 metres from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas, never over uninvolved people, and no higher than 120 metres. To fly closer to people, down to 30 metres, you need the A2 certificate and a drone with a C2 label. The Mavic 3 Multispectral does not carry that label by default: you request it from DJI and fit the prescribed propellers.

    The pilot licence as a card, with the EU flag and a drone on it.
  • Aerial image of a field with the flight pattern over it

    02

    How much you fly per hour.

    On average 15 hectares an hour at 60 to 100 metres altitude, or 20 to 60 minutes per field. One battery lasts 43 minutes at most, so for larger fields you need several.

Step by step

How you fly a field.

From drawing a field to a task map in your account. In five simple steps.

  1. 01

    Draw your field in your account or upload the boundaries.

    Drawing a field in the account

  2. 02

    Download the flight map and load it into the DJI Pilot 2 app.

    The flight map ready to download

  3. 03

    Fly. The drone follows the pattern by itself.

    The drone flies the pattern above the field

  4. 04

    Upload the photos to your account.

    The upload screen for the images

  5. 05

    Within 24 to 48 hours your task map is ready.

    The task map ready in the account
Open category

The three subcategories of the open category.

Most farm flights fall under A3: fields are rarely within 150 metres of built-up areas.

  • A1

    Drones under 250 grams or with a C1 label. You may fly close to people, but not over crowds. Exam: A1/A3.

  • A2

    Drones with a C2 label. You keep at least 30 metres from people, or 5 metres in low-speed mode. Exam: A1/A3 plus A2.

  • A3

    Drones with C2, C3, C4 or a legacy drone. You fly at least 150 metres from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas. Exam: A1/A3.

The same European rules, a different desk.

The rules are European, the paperwork is not. This is the order per country.

Belgium

In Belgium

  1. 01Arrange your liability insurance first, because registration asks for your insurance number.
  2. 02Register free of charge as an operator through the Drone Portal of the DGLV and put the operator number visibly on your drone.
  3. 03Take the A1/A3 exam free of charge online.
  4. 04The A2 theory exam is free too. You take it at the DGLV office in Brussels, after self-study of the practical part.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands

  1. 01Register as an operator with the RDW for 23 euros. That number is valid for a year and you renew it afterwards. Put it visibly on your drone.
  2. 02Take the A1/A3 exam at a recognised flight school. The certificate costs 10 euros at the RDW and is valid for five years.
  3. 03You get A2 from a recognised trainer.
  4. 04Liability insurance is required by law from 20 kg and strongly advisable for professional flying. Ask whether your business policy covers it.

On every flight

What to watch on every flight.

  • 01You fly at 120 metres altitude at most.
  • 02Check the geo zones beforehand: map.droneguide.be in Belgium, GoDrone in the Netherlands. Nature reserves have extra rules.
  • 03Do not fly in rain, and in wind your flight time drops.
  • 04If you fly for someone else, agree it with the owner beforehand and mind the homes along the field.

Send a photo of your drone.

Already have a drone and not sure whether it qualifies? Send a photo and the model, and we check it together before you buy anything.

Send us your setup

More options

Already flying? Then fly for others too.

Anyone who flies can take on fields of other farmers in their area. We plan, you fly, we make the map. Payment per field.

See the network