Drone impact kinetic energy
Kinetic energy ½mv² in joules and foot-pounds, compared with the 80 J threshold and the category 2 operations-over-people 11 ft-lb threshold, each cited.
Planning and education aid. Not for primary navigation. Full disclaimer
Experimental: not yet fully verified. How results are checked
At that speed it carries 162.5 J (119.8 ft*lbf). Not legal advice.
- Kinetic energy
- EASA class C1
- FAA operations over people, category 2
- Notice
Provenance
- Computed by
- drone.ops.kinetic-energy 1.0.0, core 0.1.0
- Model
- KE = ½·m·v²; C1 needs MTOM under 900 g or under 80 J transferred in a head-on impact at terminal velocity; category 2 is set by 11 ft-lb of transferred energy
- Accuracy
- Exact kinetic energy. Both regulations judge transferred energy under a test method, so this is a screening value, not a compliance finding.
- Notes
- 1 shown with the answer
- Cites
- European Commission, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 on unmanned aircraft systems and third-country operators; Federal Aviation Administration, 14 CFR Part 107, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Something look off?
How we got thisFormula, worked example, sources, and proof
Model: KE = ½·m·v²; C1 needs MTOM under 900 g or under 80 J transferred in a head-on impact at terminal velocity; category 2 is set by 11 ft-lb of transferred energy
Accuracy: Exact kinetic energy. Both regulations judge transferred energy under a test method, so this is a screening value, not a compliance finding.
Worked example: A 0.9 kg drone at 19 m/s. Source: add-drone-suite C1 scenario: 162.5 J, above 80 J. It is golden test vector v001, and every build checks the tool still gives its answer within its tolerance.
You enter
- Mass
- 0.9 kg
- Speed
- 19 m/s
You get
- Kinetic energy
- 162.5 J
- Kinetic energy
- 119.8 ft*lbf
- EASA class C1
- 162.5 J exceeds 80 J and the mass is 900 g or more, so this drone cannot meet C1, which needs under 900 g or under 80 J (Regulation (EU) 2019/945, Annex Part 2 (class C1)).
- FAA operations over people, category 2
- 119.8 ft*lbf is above the 11 ft-lb category 2 threshold (14 CFR 107.120(a)(1)), which applies to energy transferred on impact, shown by an accepted means of compliance.
- Notice
- Summary of rules as of 2026-09-18. Not legal advice. Check the current regulation and any waivers, authorizations, or local restrictions: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2019/945/oj
Review: Not yet independently reviewed by a Part 107 remote pilot.
Last verified: 2026-09-18, when a maintainer last confirmed this tool's sources at the issuer. See the sources ledger.
Status: version 1.0.0, core 0.1.0. See this tool in the verification report.
Checked against: 5 golden test vectors (download the test vectors, each with its source and tolerance). See how results are checked and every source.
Sources
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 on unmanned aircraft systems and third-country operators, European Commission, Consolidated, as amended by (EU) 2020/1058. Annex Parts 1-6 (class C0 to C4 requirements; C1: under 900 g or under 80 J). Rules as of 2026-09-18.
- 14 CFR Part 107, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Federal Aviation Administration, eCFR, current text (dated on the page as "Rules as of"). §107.51 (operating limitations) and §107.120 (operations over people, category 2). Rules as of 2026-09-18.
Terms
- C1: EASA class C1
- An EASA drone class: under 900 g, or under 80 J of impact energy, meant for the A1 open subcategory. Source: Regulation (EU) 2019/945
- EASA: European Union Aviation Safety Agency
- The EU agency that sets aviation safety rules, including the drone rules in Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945. Source: EASA Guidelines for UAS operations in the open and specific category
- FAA: Federal Aviation Administration
- The US civil aviation authority. Source: 14 CFR Part 1 definitions
Experimental means this tool has not yet met the stable bar: at least 20 golden vectors, differential tests, and an independent worked example.
C1 — EASA class C1
An EASA drone class: under 900 g, or under 80 J of impact energy, meant for the A1 open subcategory.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2019/945
EASA — European Union Aviation Safety Agency
The EU agency that sets aviation safety rules, including the drone rules in Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945.
Source: EASA Guidelines for UAS operations in the open and specific category
FAA — Federal Aviation Administration
The US civil aviation authority.
Source: 14 CFR Part 1 definitions