Yes, you can fly a drone during the eclipse, under the usual rules and away from people. For last summer’s eclipse, Spain’s State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) reminded operators that drone flights over crowds are not allowed, whether in the open category or under an operational declaration for a standard scenario. It also made clear that flying during an eclipse is not night flying, and asked pilots not to use eclipse glasses in flight. In the southern path of totality the light will drop suddenly at around 10:46-10:51 depending on the place: in Tarifa, totality begins at 10:45:11 Spanish time (CEST, UTC+2).
Drones: what AESA asks
AESA’s notice takes it for granted that many people will want to film the eclipse from the air, and it sets conditions. Before flying you need the required training, registration as an operator with AESA and whatever qualifications apply, and you have to check the airspace restrictions and make any coordination arrangements needed.
Over people, no. AESA’s reason is the viewing spots themselves, where a lot of people gather in changing light. And it adds a problem specific to the path of totality: the light can drop so fast that you lose sight of the drone and of other aircraft. Its advice is to plan the flight with that in mind and to stop if you cannot keep the visibility you need.
The AAS (American Astronomical Society) explains why it catches people out: almost all the drop happens in the last minute before totality, and the light comes back just as quickly at the end. If you see a drone being flown improperly, AESA asks you to report it to the police straight away.
If what you want is a record of the moment, a phone on a tripod, on the ground and with no propellers, will capture it too: we explain how in film the eclipse with your phone.
Light aircraft, helicopters and visual flight
AESA expected more traffic than usual: general and sport aviation, aerial work, helicopters for filming, radiosonde balloons, drones and sightseeing flights to see the eclipse, many of them at low altitude and over the same areas. It asked pilots to keep a sharper lookout and to watch for cables and other obstacles, because with the contrast lost during the eclipse they can become almost invisible from the air.
On the light, the notice is clear: however much it drops, flying during the eclipse is not considered night flying under current regulations. The published times for sunrise, sundown and civil twilight don’t change, and neither do the periods of daytime and night-time visual flight. That doesn’t stop the darkness being a factor each pilot has to weigh up: the decision to fly lies with the operator, and always with the minimum visual conditions required.
Balloons, hang-gliders and paragliders
When the Sun is covered, the ground stops warming for a while, and when the light returns the atmosphere heats up again: wind and thermals can change quickly. According to AESA, powered aircraft barely notice it, but in balloons, gliders, hang-gliders and paragliders it can matter. For balloons, the most demanding phase is usually the return of the Sun, with changes in temperature and wind that make control harder.
Eclipse glasses stay on the ground
AESA recommends not using eclipse glasses in flight, because they cut your view of the outside just when you need it most, and avoiding any distraction at the controls. If you are flying a drone from the ground, the logic is the same: with eclipse glasses on, you can’t see the drone.
If you are a passenger on a plane
AESA’s notice says nothing about commercial flights or their passengers, and it doesn’t announce delays or changes either: we have not found an official source saying anything of the kind for 2027. What applies everywhere, on a plane too, is the AAS and NASA safety rule: the partially eclipsed Sun should only be viewed through an EN ISO 12312-2 filter.
When the light drops in the path
For anyone flying, the critical moment is around totality. Our times for some towns:
| Town | It gets dark (C2) | Light returns (C3) |
|---|---|---|
| Tarifa | 10:45:11 | 10:49:39 |
| Cádiz | 10:45:24 | 10:48:20 |
| Málaga | 10:48:08 | 10:50:03 |
| Melilla | 10:48:12 | 10:52:48 |
Mainland Spanish time; the times of the IGN, Spain’s National Geographic Institute, are about ten seconds earlier. At sea the shadow passes just the same: we cover it in watch the eclipse from a boat. If you are organising something with an audience, see also what Spanish town councils should prepare, and to reach the path by land, getting there.
Sources: AESA — Eclipse solar: recomendaciones para una operación aérea segura (in Spanish: drones over crowds, requirements, losing sight of the drone, reporting improper use; more air traffic and cables; the eclipse is not night flying; eclipse glasses in flight; thermals, balloons and paragliders); AAS — How Dark Does It Get During a Total Solar Eclipse? (almost all the light drops in the last minute and returns just as fast); AAS — How to View a Solar Eclipse Safely and NASA — Eclipse Viewing Safety (the partially eclipsed Sun, only through an EN ISO 12312-2 filter); totality times: eclipseando data (skyfield engine + DE440s) checked against the IGN’s times.
If you would like something to keep from the eclipse, the shop prints T-shirts, mugs and posters with the name of your town, the time of its maximum and its seconds of totality. See the merchandise →
Remember: never look at the Sun without proper eye protection (filters made to EN ISO 12312-2). The official reference for safe viewing in Spain is the IGN (in Spanish): eclipses.ign.es.