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Licensed Drone Operators in Ireland: IAA Releases Official Registry
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has officially reinstated its public registry of licensed drone operators in Ireland. This new opt-in list specifically covers operators authorised within the Specific Category of drone operations.
Key Points About the Registry:
- Participation is voluntary, with approved operators choosing whether to be included in the public listing
- The registry is accessible through the official IAA website
- The list exclusively features operators certified for Specific Category operations
Notable Observations
The reintroduction of this registry has revealed interesting insights into Ireland’s drone industry. There appears to be a significant reduction in the number of listed operators compared to previous records of SOP (Specific Operating Permission) and OA (Operating Authorisation) holders. This could be attributed to several factors:
- Some operators may have transitioned to Open Category operations only
- Others may have ceased commercial drone operations entirely
- Certain operators might not have opted into the public listing
This registry is a valuable resource for drone service clients and industry stakeholders to verify licensed operators in Ireland.
Those seeking to confirm an operator’s credentials can do so through the IAA’s official channels.
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Our Certifications & Services
Drone Services Ireland is a fully licensed operator on the IAA registry. As one of Ireland’s longest-established drone service providers, we hold EASA and IAA certification for all our drone services. Find out what questions to ask before hiring a drone operator or explore our survey and inspection services.
Choosing Between Drone Service Providers in Ireland
The register above tells you who holds a Specific Category authorisation – it does not tell you which of Ireland’s drone service companies fits your project. When you are comparing drone service providers, four checks separate the professionals from the rest:
- Verify the paperwork, not the claims. Ask for the operator’s IAA registration number, their operational authorisation where the flight needs one, and proof of public liability insurance. The IAA itself advises clients to verify registration, authorisations, remote-pilot certificates and insurance before commissioning any flight.
- Ask what the deliverable actually is. A survey-grade provider will state accuracy figures, coordinate systems (ITM / EPSG 2157 for Irish engineering work) and file formats up front. If the answer is only “photos and video”, that tells you the service level.
- Check sector credentials. Construction sites need SafePass; controlled airspace needs demonstrated ATC coordination experience; insurance work needs reports in a format loss adjusters accept.
- Ask for a sample report. Any established provider can show an anonymised deliverable. We keep a full list of 15 questions to ask before hiring a drone operator, and if you are weighing up building an internal team instead, see in-house vs outsourced drone operations.
Drone Services Ireland is one of Ireland’s longest-established commercial drone operators, flying since 2016, IAA licensed with €13M public liability cover.