RC tracks, model airfields and boat waters in Croatia

In Croatia, RC car racing is represented by the Hrvatski automodelarski savez (HAMS), a member of EFRA since 1991; it organises the Croatian Championship, whose 2026 rounds almost all take place at the track in Zagreb, with one in Zadar. Model flying is looked after by the air sports federation Hrvatski zrakoplovni savez, with a focus on free flight and glider competitions (F3K, F3J, F5J) – the Aeroklub “Rudolf Fizir” in Ludbreg hosted the F3K/F5J National Championship in May 2026. RC sailing in the IOM class has a permanent home in Rogoznica near Šibenik: the IOM European Championship took place there in 2025 and the 20th Rogoznica’s Cup in April 2026.

Where can you drive RC cars in Croatia?

We have not yet found an RC track in Croatia with current evidence on the club’s own website.

Where can you fly model aircraft in Croatia?

2 club airfields with field details, limits and guest rules.

Club	Location	County	Models
Modelarski aeroklub Trešnjevka	Zagreb	City of Zagreb	Powered, Electric, Gliders, Helicopters, Jets, Multicopter/FPV
Aeroklub „Rudolf Fizir“ Ludbreg	Ludbreg	Varaždin	Gliders, Electric

Where can you sail model boats in Croatia?

1 club water and meetings for model boats with propulsion and guest rules.

Club	Location	County	Models
Jedriličarski klub Val Šibenik	Rogoznica	Šibenik-Knin	Sailing models

What are the rules in Croatia?

These associations are responsible in Croatia:

• Hrvatski automodelarski savez (HAMS): HAMS was founded in Zagreb in 1991, promotes technical culture and in particular RC car modelling and racing, and has been a member of the European and international federations for radio-controlled model cars (EFRA, IFMAR) since 1991. It organises the Croatian championship (Prvenstvo Hrvatske) – in 2026 with rounds in the 1:8 and 1:10 classes, almost all on the track in Zagreb and one 1:8 round in Zadar.
• Hrvatski zrakoplovni savez (HZS) – aeromodelling section (Zrakoplovno modelarstvo): HZS, founded in 1947, is the umbrella association of clubs for all aviation activities in Croatia and a full member of the FAI, the Croatian Community of Technical Culture (HZTK) and the Croatian Olympic Committee. In aeromodelling, one of its branches with its own specialist commission, the focus is on competition flying – free flight (F1) and radio-controlled gliders (F3K, F3J, F5J) – with national championships and cups; for 2026 it announces, among others, the national F3L championship on 8 November 2026 at the Drežnik model airfield.

The key points from the law and official pages (retrieved 11/10/2026):

• The competent authority for drones and model aircraft is the Croatian civil aviation agency, Hrvatska agencija za civilno zrakoplovstvo (HACZ; internationally CCAA). Operators register online on its FAUST platform (drone.ccaa.hr) – in the open category this is required from a take-off mass of 250 g, for an impact energy above 80 J or if the aircraft carries sensors able to capture personal data (toys excepted), and in the specific category regardless of mass; the registration number must be displayed on all of the operator’s drones, without the characters after the hyphen (Hrvatska agencija za civilno zrakoplovstvo – Registracija UAS operatora).
• Remote pilots are not registered, but must pass a theory exam before flying in the open category: for subcategories A1/A3 the exam is taken online from the candidate’s user profile on the HACZ platform KATA (ispiti.ccaa.hr) (gov.hr – Želim letjeti dronom – što moram napraviti?).
• Subcategory A2 additionally requires practical self-training in line with HACZ form UAS-FRM-002 and a further exam, held on dates and at locations shown in the candidate’s profile. Candidates must sign up at least 2 working days in advance and bring the identity document stated in their application (gov.hr – Želim letjeti dronom – što moram napraviti?).
• In the open category, the unmanned aircraft must be kept within 120 m of the closest point of the surface of the earth; the only exception is when overflying an obstacle (Article 4(1)(e) of Regulation (EU) 2019/947) (EUR-Lex – Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Article 4).
• The open category also requires that the drone always stays within the remote pilot’s visual line of sight, that nothing is dropped and no dangerous goods are carried, that its mass is at most 25 kg and that a safe horizontal distance from uninvolved people is kept. Operations that cannot meet these conditions fall into the specific category – according to the government portal via an EASA standard scenario (STS), a pre-defined (PDRA) or own risk assessment, or a light UAS operator certificate (LUC) (gov.hr – Želim letjeti dronom – što moram napraviti?).
• Depending on the type of operation, compulsory third-party liability insurance may be required. According to the government portal it is not needed if you fly a drone or model aircraft of up to 20 kg purely for sport and recreation – for example in model flying clubs – and carry out no aerial work such as filming, photography, advertising or surveillance, whether paid or not, for private or public purposes (gov.hr – Želim letjeti dronom – što moram napraviti?).
• Operators register in the EU member state where they live and may not be registered in more than one member state at a time (Article 14(6) of Regulation (EU) 2019/947). According to HACZ, a registration with HACZ allows open-category operations in any EU member state (EUR-Lex – Provedbena uredba Komisije (EU) 2019/947, članak 14.).
• In Croatia, geographical UAS zones are set by the Ordinance on Airspace Management (Pravilnik o upravljanju zračnim prostorom, NN 20/2023): URG areas are conditionally prohibited for drone operations, ULG areas are restricted and UAG areas are approved under a simplified procedure. Outside control zones (CTR), the UAG area extends from ground or water level up to 120 m; inside a CTR it extends up to 50 m, and within 1,500 m of the protective fence of a controlled aerodrome a URG area applies (Narodne novine – Pravilnik o upravljanju zračnim prostorom (NN 20/2023)).
• In Croatia, drone flights are only allowed with prior approval; according to the government portal, operators and remote pilots must – depending on the area – notify their flights regardless of the drone’s mass. In UAG areas, approval is given automatically in real time on the day of flight via the AMC Portal Mobile app of the air navigation service provider Crocontrol (prior registration on the AMC Portal required); otherwise the regular procedure applies, with an application form submitted 7 days before the flight. The app also shows where flying is and is not permitted (Narodne novine – Pravilnik o upravljanju zračnim prostorom (NN 20/2023)).

Frequently asked questions

Where can I drive RC cars in Croatia?

We have not yet found a track with up-to-date evidence on a club website of its own. The HAMS federation publishes the calendar of the 2026 Croatian Championship on its website – almost all rounds take place at the track in Zagreb, one in Zadar. Before a visit, it is best to ask the federation.

Can I fly at a Croatian model flying field as a guest?

Not at MAK Trešnjevka in Zagreb-Lučko: according to the operations manual, only club members may use the field. The Aeroklub “Rudolf Fizir” in Ludbreg hosts competitions such as the F3K Fizir Cup; the competition announcement is on the club website. At other clubs, ask beforehand.

Do I need to register again in Croatia?

No, if you live in another EU country and are registered there as an operator: you only register in your country of residence and may not be registered in several member states at the same time. However, to get approval for your flights via the AMC Portal Mobile app, you do need to register on the AMC portal of the air navigation service provider.

Do I need insurance in Croatia?

For purely sport and recreational flying with a drone or model aircraft up to 20 kg, for example at a model flying club, compulsory liability insurance is not required according to the Croatian government portal. As soon as you film, take photos or carry out other work from the air – even privately and free of charge – you need one, depending on the operation.

Do I have to notify my flights in Croatia?

Yes, drone flights in Croatia are only permitted with prior approval, depending on the flying area regardless of mass. In the UAG area you get it on the day of the flight in real time via the AMC Portal Mobile app of the air navigation service provider Crocontrol, otherwise with an application 7 days before the flight. Whether this also applies at club fields is not explicitly specified in the regulation – ask the club; the field in Lučko reports its operations to the tower.