User guide

How to Use UAV Base

Everything you need to know to navigate the drone restriction map, understand the zones, and use all the available tools.

Overview

UAV Base is an interactive map that displays, in real time, all drone-restricted zones in Romania, based on official ROMATSA data. The map is organized into several overlapping layers, each representing a different type of restriction or information.
The interface has two main components:

Toolbar
Upper bar — contains the search field, layer filters (chips), and all action buttons.
Map
Map area — the interactive map itself. You can navigate by scrolling (zooming), dragging (moving), or tapping on a mobile device.
💡

Tap any colored area on the map to view the full details of the restriction — type, altitude, source, and validity period.

Search by location

The search bar on the left side of the top menu allows you to quickly find any location in Romania to check what restrictions apply in that area.

1
Click in the search field and type in the address, city, or name of the location you’re looking for.
2
From the list of suggestions that appears, select the correct location. The map will automatically center on that location.
3
Check the colored areas around the selected location to understand the applicable restrictions.
4
Click the ✕ button in the search field to clear the search and return to the normal view.
💡

You can search by full address (e.g., “12 Florilor Street, Cluj-Napoca”), by city name, or by a well-known point of interest.

Layer filters (chips)

The filter buttons (chips) in the top bar control which layers are visible on the map. Each chip corresponds to a type of information. Click on a chip to turn it on or off.

UAS Static
NOTAM
Active flights
Scheduled
UAS Static
Permanent zones — Fixed restrictions in the ROMATSA database: prohibited zones, controlled zones, airport surroundings, military zones, etc. These zones can only be changed through legislative amendments.
NOTAM
Notice to Airmen — Temporary restrictions currently in effect, issued by ROMATSA. These may be imposed due to events, military exercises, construction work, or other temporary activities. They are updated periodically.
Active flights
Flights in progress — Zboruri cu drona anunțate de alți utilizatori UAVBase care sunt active chiar acum. Util pentru a ști că nu ești singur în zonă.
Scheduled
Upcoming flights — Drone flights announced in advance by other users. This helps you plan your flights and avoid air traffic congestion.
⚠️

Important: Disabling a layer does not remove the actual restriction — it simply means you no longer see that layer on the map. The restrictions remain in effect regardless of your display settings.

Understanding Restricted Areas

The zones are represented by colored areas on the map. Each color indicates a different type of restriction. Tap any zone to view detailed information.

Purple — Mandatory MApN approval
Military zone. Approval from the Ministry of National Defense is required, regardless of altitude. Submit a request at aerofoto.mapn.ro.
Blue — Restricted (R/LR)
Restricted airspace. Prior authorization required — submit Annex 1 to the responsible control tower via the ROMATSA platform.
Amber — Active NOTAM
Temporary restriction in effect, issued via NOTAM. Check the type of activity, validity period, and altitude ceilings in the pop-up.
Gray — Conditional
The area is not currently active, but may be activated at any time via a NOTAM (e.g., military training zones). Check before every flight.
Pink — Flight currently active
Drone flight reported by another UAVBase user, currently active. For informational purposes only — does not constitute a legal restriction.
Green — Scheduled flight
A drone flight announced by another UAVBase user, planned for the future. For informational purposes only — does not constitute a legal restriction.
1
Tap on a colored area to open the pop-up with details.
2
View the area type, altitude limits, legal source, and—for NOTAMs—the validity period.
3
Use the links in the pop-up to access the official ROMATSA or AACR source if you need more information.

Toolbar buttons

To the right of the top bar is a row of buttons with icons. Each one activates a specific map feature.

🌙 Dark
Dark mode — Switch the map between light and dark themes.
⚙ Filter
Advanced filters — Open the detailed area filter panel.
📋 Legend
Legend — Show the explanation of all colors and symbols on the map.
📍 Location
Find me — Center the map on your current GPS location.
✈ ADS-B
Live Air Traffic — Displays aircraft in flight in real time using ADS-B data.
🛸 Flight Announcement
Announce a drone flight — Record a planned or active flight that is visible to other users.
🌤 Weather
Weather forecast for the area — Verifică condițiile meteorologice curente pentru locația selectată.
📂 History
My flight history — View and export all the flights you’ve previously booked.
🏆 Rankings
Top Pilots — Ranking of active drivers on the platform.
📡 Telecom
Towers & Mobile Coverage — View cell towers and mobile network coverage in the area.
⛶ Fullscreen
Fullscreen — Expand the map to full screen for a better view.

Advanced filters

The Advanced Filters panel lets you refine which types of areas are displayed on the map. Click the Advanced Filters button on the toolbar to open it.

1
Press the button ⚙ Advanced filters from the toolbar.
2
Select or deselect the types of areas you want to view (e.g., only MApN areas, or only airport CTRs).
3
The map updates immediately to reflect the selected filters.
4
Press All to return to the default view with all active areas.

Legend

The legend explains the meaning of each color and symbol on the map. It’s especially helpful if you’re new to the platform or if you come across an area with an unfamiliar color.

1
Press the button 📋 Legend from the toolbar.
2
The panel opens to display all types of areas in their corresponding colors, along with a brief description of each one.
3
Tap the button again or close the panel to return to the map.

Find me

The GPS location feature automatically centers the map on your current location and displays a marker showing where you are on the map.

1
Press the button 📍 Find me from the toolbar.
2
The first time you use it, the browser will ask for permission to access your location. Accept to continue.
3
The map centers on your location and displays a pulsating blue circle. You can now check what restrictions are in effect in your area.
ℹ️

The location feature uses your device’s GPS. On mobile devices, the accuracy is usually good. On desktop computers, location is determined via IP address and may be less accurate.

Live Air Traffic (ADS-B)

The ADS-B layer displays, in real time, aircraft transmitting position data within Romanian airspace. This feature helps you check for active air traffic in the area where you plan to fly.

1
Press the button ✈ ADS-B from the toolbar to activate the layer.
2
Detected aircraft appear on the map as animated icons showing their flight path.
3
Tap on an aircraft to view details: call sign, altitude, speed, and aircraft type.
4
Tap the ADS-B button again to turn off the layer and clear the map.
⚠️

Note: Not all aircraft transmit ADS-B. Military helicopters, certain small private aircraft, and UAVs do not appear in this layer. Do not rely on ADS-B as your sole method for checking airspace.

Announce a drone flight

The flight announcement feature allows you to register a planned or active flight, which will be visible on the map to other UAV Base users. It is not a substitute for official notifications from ROMATSA or the Ministry of National Defense, but it helps foster a safer community of pilots.

1
Press the button 🛸 Announce a flight from the toolbar to open the form.
2
Enter the flight location—you can enter an address, import a .KML file, use GPS coordinates, or tap on the map to select the area directly.
3
Set the flight area, date, time window, and planned maximum altitude.
4
Select the drone model and the operating category (A1, A2, A3, or Custom).
5
Add your AACR operator ID and contact information if you wish.
6
Press Announce a flight. The flight now appears on the map as a pin visible to all users in that area.
💡

You can view and manage your past flights by clicking the 📂 Flight history, from where you can also export a report in Excel/CSV format.

ℹ️

If your flight requires official authorization, Use the links in the form to go directly to the ROMATSA platform or the corresponding AACR procedure.

Weather forecast for the area

The weather tool provides you with the current weather conditions for the location shown on the map—essential for planning any safe flight.

1
Navigate the map to your desired location or search for it using the search bar.
2
Press the button 🌤 Weather from the toolbar.
3
The weather display shows the temperature, wind speed and direction, visibility, and general conditions—essential information for safe drone flight.

Telecom towers & mobile coverage

The telecom layer displays cell towers and the estimated coverage of 5G, LTE, UMTS, and GSM networks in the viewed area.

1
Press the button 📡 Telecom from the toolbar.
2
Select the signal types you want to view—5G, LTE, UMTS, or GSM—from the filters in the telecom panel.
3
The towers appear as icons on the map, and the coverage appears as semi-transparent colored areas depending on the network type.
4
Tap a tower to view the operator, antenna type, and available technologies.
5G
5G Network — Maximum Speed, but Coverage Is Still Limited in Romania.
LTE
4G/LTE — the most widespread high-speed network, with good coverage in urban and suburban areas.
UMTS
3G/UMTS — Wide coverage, including in rural areas; average speed.
GSM
2G/GSM — Maximum coverage, suitable for basic voice and data services in remote areas.
⚠️

The coverage shown is approximate and based on public data. Actual conditions may vary depending on terrain, buildings, or interference.

Dark Mode

Dark mode changes the map and interface theme for a more comfortable experience in low-light conditions or at night.

1
Press the button 🌙 from the toolbar to enable dark mode.
2
The map, toolbar, panels, and all interface elements switch to the dark theme.
3
Press the button again to return to light mode.
💡

Your dark mode preference is saved locally in your browser, so the next time you visit, the interface will open in the mode you selected.

Full screen

Full-screen mode expands the map to fill the entire screen, hiding the browser’s navigation bar for a more spacious view—especially useful on tablets and laptops.

1
Press the button ⛶ Full-screen from the toolbar.
2
The map fills the entire screen. All features remain available.
3
Press Esc or click the button again to exit full-screen mode.