🎓 DRONE PILOT TRAINING · €350–2,800 LA FORMATION · 121 CITIES
Drone drone pilot training: 2026 rates, anywhere in France
Becoming a professional drone pilot requires mastering a dense European regulatory framework and genuine flying skill. Our courses cover the full journey: preparation for the online A1/A3 theory exam, the French BAPD certificate for sub-category A2, complete specific-category training (CATS theory plus practical STS-01/STS-02 scenario training with assessment and certificate), and trade modules — photogrammetry, thermography, technical inspection, FPV. Sessions alternate between classroom, simulator and a declared training field.
Our instructors are working drone pilots: real-world cases, the pitfalls of prefectural declarations and the actual preparation of a mission in controlled airspace are part of the syllabus alongside theory. Courses are eligible for French professional funding schemes (OPCO, France Travail depending on your file); individual sessions or small groups of 4 to 6 trainees, anywhere in France. Three months of post-course support (regulatory hotline, review of your first mission files) is included.
Rates
€350–2,800 la formation — the 2026 French market range. The quote depends on the site, the expected deliverable and the local airspace context.
Common use cases
- Complete specific-category training (CATS theory + STS practical) to become a professional pilot
- Preparation for the A1/A3 theory exam and the French A2 certificate (BAPD)
- Upskilling in-house teams (construction, energy, local authorities)
- Trade module: photogrammetry, thermography or inspection
- Supervised FPV flying initiation on a dedicated field
- Support in launching a drone business (filings, operations manual, insurance)
Applicable regulations
The French regulatory path in 2026 works as follows: for the open category, free online A1/A3 training and exam on the DGAC platform (via AlphaTango), supplemented for A2 by declared practical self-training and the French theory exam (BAPD). For the specific category (built-up areas, beyond visual line of sight, STS scenarios), the pilot must pass the CATS theory certificate (exam at a DGAC centre) then complete practical training with a recognised entity issuing the completion certificate; the operator declares its STS scenarios and maintains an operations manual. Every operator — even recreational, from 800 g or with a camera — registers on AlphaTango. Our training fields are declared and our practical courses aligned with European scenario requirements.
Information checked against the regulations in force as of August 2026 (EU regulations 2019/945 and 2019/947, applicable French decrees).
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a professional drone pilot?
Allow 5 to 10 days of training: 2 to 3 weeks of CATS theory preparation (often remote), then 3 to 5 days of practical STS work in the field. Many trainees are operational within a month, operator filings included.
Can the course be funded by French professional schemes?
Yes: our organisation is Qualiopi-certified, the prerequisite for OPCO funding, company training plans and France Travail support. We provide the quote, syllabus and agreement for your application.
Do I need to own a drone before training?
No: training drones (and the simulator) are provided throughout the course. We then advise you on buying a machine suited to your business and its European class (C0 to C6).
Drone drone pilot training, city by city
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Bretagne
Grand Est
Hauts-de-France
Île-de-France
Normandie
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Occitanie
Pays de la Loire
Going further
- Drone Services in Île-de-France: the P23 No-Fly Zone, Grand Paris Express and La Défense Towers
- Flying with drone batteries: 2026 IATA/ICAO rules for cabin and hold
- Drone services in Grand Est: nuclear plants, Verdun, Champagne and the bark beetle crisis, 2026 prices
- Drone services in Centre-Val de Loire: nuclear plants, Loire Valley châteaux, Beauce and Sologne, 2026 prices