Argentina Modernizes its Drone Regulations with a New ANAC Regulatory Framework
ANAC has formalized the new regulatory framework for drones in Argentina, repealing the 2019 regulations and aligning the country with international risk-based standards.
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Argentina's National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC), through Resolution 550/2025 published in the Official Gazette, has approved a new and comprehensive regulatory framework for the operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), commonly known as drones.
This measure, which became effective upon its publication on August 8, 2025, repeals Resolution No. 880/19, which had governed the sector to date. The decision is part of the deregulation process promoted by the National Government through Decree No. 70/23, which stated in its considerations on air transport that "Argentina's aeronautical policy has severely limited the development of the air commercial industry."
The central objective of the new regulation is to create a "competitive environment that provides sufficient flexibility to reach all Argentine cities," as quoted in the resolution itself. To this end, a legal framework is established that promotes free competition and the development of private investment, while maintaining operational safety as a "non-negotiable objective."
A New Risk-Based Approach
The most profound modernization of the regulation is the adoption of a risk-based approach, a practice recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and already implemented in other regions of the world.
The new scheme is structured into three new parts of the Argentine Civil Aviation Regulations (RAAC):
RAAC Part 100: Establishes the general requirements applicable to all RPAS operations within Argentine territory.
RAAC Part 101: Introduces the Open Category. This category is designed for low-risk operations that do not require prior authorization from ANAC, provided that certain conditions related to aircraft weight, distance from people, and permitted flight zones are met.
RAAC Part 102: Defines the Specific Category, which covers operations with a higher risk than those in the Open Category. To operate in this category, RPAS operators will need an operational authorization from ANAC, based on a safety risk assessment.
Keys to the New Drone Regulation
What is the main change? A shift from a single system to a risk-based one with two initial categories: Open (low risk) and Specific (medium/high risk), simplifying recreational and low-impact operations.
Why was the rule changed? To align Argentina with international standards, encourage private investment, and remove what the government considers barriers to the sector's growth.
Is safety reduced now? No. The resolution emphasizes that operational safety is a "cross-cutting" and "non-negotiable" principle, and the new system aims for more proactive safety management based on the actual risk associated with each operation.
Additionally, to maintain regulatory consistency, the former RAAC Part 101, which regulated captive balloons, kites, and amateur rockets, was renumbered as RAAC Part 32.
The resolution instructs the various departments of ANAC to draft the necessary complementary modifications for the effective implementation of this new framework. The measure aims, in the words of the official text, to contribute to "a more open, efficient, and unmanned aviation aligned with the principles of deregulation and transparency without neglecting operational safety."
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