Regulation of parachutes for drone in France on July 20, 2018

Outside the S3 scenario -> The parachute is not mandatory

For a drone weighing less than 2 kg

• No need for parachute

For a drone between 2kg and 4kg in S3 scenario

• Parachute limits impact energy to 69 joules
• The parachute must be able to be controlled without going through the autopilot. So either by a free channel of the receiver, or by a separate receiver dedicated to the parachute
• The parachute must deploy completely in less than 15 meters of fall
• The parachute must be triggered automatically if the failsafe mode consists of a simple stop of the engines, against if the failsafe consists of an automatic return to the starting point, the parachute must not be triggered

And more for drones over 4 kg in S-3 scenario

• The triggering of the parachute must also stop the engines
• The radio control and the parachute receiver must be independent of the radio control and the main receiver (which is used to control the drone)
• A sound signal placed on the drone must signal its fall.
• The parachute must be ejected by a spring or a pyrotechnic system and not simply deployed by gravity
• The proper operation of the parachute must be able to be checked before each flight

Beyond 8kg

• Scenario S-3 impossible

Link to full size image : https://parachutedrone.com/img/cms/reglementation-des-parachutes-pour-drone-en-france-au-20-juillet-2018.png

We are talking here only about non-captive drones and parachute, no airbag or other system of protection of third parties.

DSAC guide - Aircraft flowing without anyone on board: special activities - Edition 1 Version 4 - 20/07/2018: https://www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/Guide_drones_activites_particulieres.pdf