This summer, Heise online reported that the Federal Aviation Office (LBA) had retroactively sent questionable fee notices to citizens who, in 2021, had acquired the "small drone license" or (at the same time) registered as an operator of an unmanned aircraft. The office had retroactively levied fees of 25 to 45 Euros for the acquisition of the A1/A3 certificate of competence and the four-year registration.
Fee Notice for Small Drone License Annulled
The Federal Aviation Office has now apparently changed its stance on controversial fee notices for drone pilots. A particularly critical aspect was that this also affected users who had acquired these certificates within a specific period after the fee's introduction. This was because, according to the authority's own statements, information regarding the obligation to pay fees had not been sufficiently published on its official websites during this period.
A case has now emerged in which the LBA annulled such a fee notice following an objection from the affected individual. The drone pilot had utilized the services in question precisely during the disputed period and, in his objection, pointed out that there was insufficient clarification regarding the applicable costs at that time. The authority annulled the notice and neither demanded administrative costs nor refunded any fees that had already been paid.
This decision now raises questions regarding the further handling of cases that have already been concluded. Many affected individuals had previously submitted their objections unsuccessfully and ultimately paid the fees out of concern for a costly dunning procedure. Others refrained from filing an objection from the outset, as they saw no prospect of success given the previous practice. Whether and under what conditions these individuals will now also receive a refund is currently still unclear. The Federal Aviation Office has not yet issued a statement regarding these specific follow-up questions. Heise promises to continue reporting on the developments.
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