Flying drones in Centre-Val de Loire: zones, paperwork, contacts

Who it is for

• Companies, local authorities and tourist boards commissioning drone work in the Cher, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher or Loiret departments
• Professional remote pilots, French or foreign, working in the region without knowing it in detail
• Production companies and consultancies pricing a Loire Valley shoot or a mission near a sensitive site

What this guide does not do: This guide does not replace the day's Géoportail map, aeronautical information (NOTAM, AIP SUP, AZBA) or legal advice · It grants no authorisation and guarantees none: decisions belong to the préfet, the DGAC and site managers · It does not cover the basics of the EU rules (categories, training): see the general guide

Contents of the complete guide

1. What is different about flying in Centre-Val de Loire (free extract below)
2. Aerodromes, control zones and military airspace
3. Permanent prohibited zones and sensitive sites
4. Natural areas, the Loire and forests
5. Main towns, châteaux and heritage
6. Prior notification and authorisations: the process step by step
7. Events and temporary restrictions
8. Regional checklist and official sources

Included: 12 checklist items and 5 decision or reference tables.

Introduction

This regional edition is for anyone planning or commissioning a drone flight in Centre-Val de Loire: clients (companies, local authorities, tourist boards, heritage managers) and professional remote pilots, including operators based outside France who take on a Loire Valley job. It gathers what is specific to the region and not found together anywhere else: the nuclear plants lined up along the Loire, military sites, the aerodromes to know, protected natural areas, the special case of the châteaux and Chambord, the notification process and the events that temporarily close the sky.

How to use it: chapter 1 gives the overview in one read; the later chapters are for when you prepare a specific mission. The "place → constraint → formality" table (chapter 6) and the final checklist (chapter 8) are designed to be printed.

Up to date as of 30 September 2026. Airspace restrictions change (temporary zones, new permanent zones, aeronautical information updates): before every flight, the drone restriction map on Géoportail and the aeronautical information published by the SIA are the reference.

What is different about flying in Centre-Val de Loire

The rules are those that apply across France: EU Regulation 2019/947, open and specific categories, 120 m maximum height, standard scenarios STS-01 and STS-02 (the French national scenarios S1, S2 and S3 can no longer be used since 1 January 2026), and prior notification to the préfecture for flights over populated areas. What changes is the density and nature of local constraints. Seven specifics to know before any quote.

1. Four nuclear plants on the Loire

The region has four operating plants, all on the river: Belleville-sur-Loire (Cher), Dampierre-en-Burly (Loiret), Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux (in Saint-Laurent-Nouan, Loir-et-Cher) and Chinon (in Avoine, Indre-et-Loire). Each is surrounded by a permanent prohibited zone. In practice, a large part of the Loire between the Cher and Indre-et-Loire has a sector closed to all civilian flights, including to film the river or a nearby château.

2. Two active military air bases

Air base 123 Orléans-Bricy, north-west of Orléans, is home to the A400M transport fleet; air base 702 Avord, east of Bourges, is another major military site. Around them, military airspace and low-level flight paths make the west of the Orléans area and the east of Bourges especially constrained.

3. Bourges, a defence-industry town

Bourges concentrates defence-industry and test sites (firing range, armament plants). Several of them are protected by prohibited zones. An urban job in Bourges is prepared by overlaying the Géoportail map on a precise plan of the work area.

4. The UNESCO Loire Valley: a landscape, not a monument

The Loire Valley has been a World Heritage site since 30 November 2000, over roughly 280 km between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes-sur-Loire. The listing does not in itself create a no-fly zone; but every château, estate and garden has an owner or manager whose agreement is needed to take off from their land or film their site, and many riverside towns are built-up areas (préfecture notification).

5. Chambord: a national estate that obtained an airspace zone

The Chambord national estate was covered by a temporary restricted area of about 2 nautical miles radius (just over 3.7 km) around the estate, applicable until 15 April 2026 and to be avoided by all aircraft, drones included, unless exempted. The estate has stated it is seeking a permanent zone. Before any mission near Chambord, check on Géoportail and with the SIA what applies on the flight date.

6. Three regional nature parks and river reserves

The Brenne, Loire-Anjou-Touraine and Perche regional nature parks (the last shared with Normandy) do not impose a general overflight ban, but contain sensitive sectors (ponds, nesting areas). The region's national nature reserves (including the Val de Loire reserve, Saint-Mesmin near Orléans and Chérine in the Brenne) protect colonies of breeding birds on sandbanks and ponds.

7. The 10-working-day notice, times six departments

The region has six departments and therefore six préfectures receiving notifications: Cher (Bourges), Eure-et-Loir (Chartres), Indre (Châteauroux), Indre-et-Loire (Tours), Loir-et-Cher (Blois) and Loiret (Orléans). A roving mission along the Loire from Orléans to Chinon crosses three departments: that means as many notifications if populated areas are flown over.

Frequently asked questions

How do I receive the guide?

Right after payment you are redirected to the complete guide's page. Bookmark it, or print it to PDF (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P, “Save as PDF”). Stripe also emails you the receipt.

Do I get an invoice?

Yes: Stripe generates the invoice and emails it. You can enter your company name and VAT number at checkout.

Is the guide kept up to date?

Yes. The guide's page is updated when the rules change; your access stays valid and you always read the latest version.

Does this guide replace the official texts or a training course?

No. C-DRONE is neither the French civil aviation authority (DGAC) nor a training organisation: the guide explains and organises the paperwork, with links to the official sources, which alone are authoritative.

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