14th August 2025. | News

Drones in BiH: Amendments to the Law on BHANSA paves the way for the safer sky and modern air traffic control

The use of drones in Bosnia and Herzegovina airspace has seen significant growth in recent years. Possibilities are almost limitless, from commercial and industrial implementation, agriculture and logistics, to creative and leisure activities. However, this fast growth poses serious safety challenges. The adoption of the amendments to the Law on BHANSA has become necessary and urgent, as the rules and technical capacities for flying these aircraft have not kept pace with the market. 

A statistic that raises concerns

Data obtained by the BHANSA ATM Department, for the period from December 2024 to July 2025, reveals an alarming trend. 2,957 drone flights, 13 flights per day on average, were registered in the radius of 10 kilometers around the runway of Sarajevo International Aerodrome. The most active month was June 2025, with more than 540 drone flights. 368 close encounters with manned aircraft were recorded, where the smallest distance measured was only 215 meters. 

Saturdays stand out as the days with the highest air traffic (530 flights per month, on average). Although most drones weigh less than 250 grams, even the smallest ones may pose a serious hazard if they enter the flight path of a passenger aircraft.   

This data clearly shows that the present system, without the technological advancement brought by the new law, will not be able to meet the challenges of safe control of the increasing number of drones. Any postponment of the adoption of the new law, prolongs the period in which the safety of our airspace depends on the obsolete solutions – in our case, on the 15-year-old legislative framework. 

U-space technology – a solution that cannot wait 

The proposed amendments to the Law on BHANSA pave the way to introducing the U-space technology as an advanced, automated system for controlling unmanned aircraft traffic. This system enables safe integration of drones into civil and commercial operations, and thus creating new possibilities for industry, agriculture, logistics and emergency services. 

A very important advantage is that the U-space will be connected to the European networks, allowing drones to operate in cross-border missions, with real-time data exchange. Unlike the current practice, where flights are approved through the establishment of special zones, U-space will automate this process – shorten timelines, simplify the procedure and make operations easier for drone operators. 

Two pillars of safety 

Safe use of drones in Bosnia and Herzegovina relies on two institutions: Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate of Civil Aviation (BHDCA) and Bosnia and Herzegovina Air Navigation Services Agency (BHANSA). 

BHDCA sets the rules and is expected to establish the regulatory framework for operating unmanned aircraft, which should be in compliance with the European Union Regulation, so the rules are harmonized with the rest of Europe. 

By introducing U-Space, BHANSA is expected to undertake the responsibility for the operational part, which involves airspace management and issuance of flight clearances. BHANSA would control drones in real time, ensure there are no conflicts with neither other drones nor with commercial aircraft, and thus safely integrate them into the existing air traffic. 

Nowadays, BHDCA ensures the registration of operators, online training and exams for pilots, as well as the assignment of the unique ID number to every drone. This is the first step towards safe flying. 

BHANSA ensures that the pilots submit date, time, location, altitude and flight duration and checks all safety conditions before issuing a clearance. Submission deadlines depend on airspace class: 7 days in advance for permanent zones and 20 days in advance for temporary zones. 

A flight without the approval of BHANSA is illegal and poses a serious safety risk.