Professional Federation of Civilian Drones (FPDC)

What Professional Federation of Civilian Drones (FPDC) does

The Fédération Professionnelle du Drone Civil (FPDC) is a French non-profit professional association (association loi 1901) founded in June 2013 by four civil drone sector actors. Headquartered in Paris with a small operational team of 1–10 staff, it serves as the principal national trade body representing the French civil drone industry, with 300+ members spanning drone manufacturers, professional operators, training centers, and sector-specific verticals including security, drone shows and swarm flying, and agricultural/BTP drone applications (including spraying).

Its core offerings are membership-based services rather than technology products: the Annuaire des membres (member directory), the RS 7235 "Télépilotage professionnel de drones" professional certification for training centers, recurring regulatory and technical webinars, and the annual FPDC Drone Summit. The federation also maintains a dedicated European presence function and a partnership with OPPBTP that includes a referral mapping tool connecting member drone operators to construction-sector demand.

FPDC generates revenue through annual membership dues processed via the HelloAsso platform and operates a community-led go-to-market model supported by digital channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook, newsletter, blog) and in-person industry engagement at events such as the Salon du Bourget and the Forum de la Couverture. It does not develop proprietary technology and functions as an industry-coordination layer over the French civilian UAV ecosystem.

Name

Professional Federation of Civilian Drones (FPDC)

Legal name

Fédération Professionnelle du Drone Civil

Website

https://federation-drone.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Fédération Professionnelle du Drone Civil (FPDC) is a French non-profit trade association founded in 2013 that represents 300+ civil drone manufacturers, operators, and sector-specific professionals across security, agriculture, construction, and drone-show verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association / Industry Advocacy Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE) (EDAAALAM)

Keywords

• Civil drone federation
• UAV industry association
• Professional drone certification
• Drone operator advocacy
• Drone pilot training

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The federation operates on membership fees collected annually from drone manufacturers, operators, and other industry stakeholders. The association is governed by the French law of 1901 (non-profit structure). Revenue supports federation activities including advocacy, professional development, events, and industry coordination.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The FPDC is a membership-based non-profit professional association serving the French civil drone industry. Its core offerings consist of industry representation and regulatory advocacy with bodies such as DSAC, an Annuaire des membres (member directory), the RS 7235 professional drone piloting certification program for training centers, recurring webinars on regulatory and sector topics, and the annual FPDC Drone Summit plus sector-specific events.

Product overview

The Professional Federation of Civilian Drones (FPDC) is a non-product company — it is a professional association under the French law of 1901, founded in June 2013. Rather than offering a unified software platform or product suite, it provides member services including a directory of drone industry professionals (Annuaire des membres), professional certification programs (RS 7235 certification for drone pilot training centers), webinars on regulatory and technical topics, and organizes industry events such as the FPDC Drone Summit. These offerings are support and networking services for the civil drone industry rather than a technical product portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annuaire des membres (Member Directory) Searchable online directory listing professional members of the federation, including civil drone manufacturers and operators in France; accessible to members and used to promote member visibility.
• Certification RS 7235 "Télépilotage professionnel de drones" Professional pilot certification administered by FPDC for drone training centers and individuals under the French Référentiel Système framework (RS 7235), enabling recognized credentialing for professional drone piloting.
• Webinaires FPDC (Webinars) Recurring online webinars covering regulatory and sector topics for the French civil drone industry, with replays accessible to members on the federation website.
• FPDC Drone Summit Annual professional conference organized by FPDC, with editions such as the Drone Summit 2026 held at Maison de la Côte in Chambéry focused on drone spraying in agriculture and BTP.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• OPPBTP (Organisme Professionnel de Prévention du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPPBTP is a key strategic partner of FPDC in the construction and public works sector. The partnership includes a mapping initiative connecting drone service providers with construction industry needs and competencies. OPPBTP and FPDC signed a new convention in 2025 and collaborated on joint webinars and industry events. OPPBTP also provides a referral mapping tool for FPDC members.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International): AUVSI is the largest US-based unmanned systems and drone industry association, providing advocacy, education, and events. It is broadly comparable to FPDC as a national/regional drone industry trade body, but operates at much larger scale and a US-centric scope.

Direct peers

• Commercial Drone Alliance: Commercial Drone Alliance is a US-based industry association advocating for commercial drone integration. It is comparable to FPDC in mission (commercial drone advocacy and industry representation) but operates in a different geography.
• European Drone Federation: European Drone Federation is a Brussels-based industry body representing drone operators and manufacturers at the EU level. It is a direct peer to FPDC in advocating for the civil drone industry, with a broader pan-European scope.
• Drone Trade Association (UK): Drone Trade Association is a UK membership body representing commercial drone operators and training organizations. It is a direct functional peer to FPDC at the national level, with similar services including member directories, training standards support, and policy advocacy.
• UVS International: UVS International is a European non-profit association for unmanned vehicle systems, focused on regulatory representation and industry coordination. It is the closest pan-European functional peer to FPDC and directly competes for European-policy mindshare.

Regional players

• Bundesverband der Deutschen Drohnenwirtschaft (BVDW drone unit): The German digital economy association (BVDW) has a dedicated drone unit representing commercial drone interests in Germany. It is comparable to FPDC as a national industry body for civil drones, but serves a different national market.
• Aerial Evolution Association of Canada: Aerial Evolution Association of Canada is the Canadian non-profit trade association for the unmanned aerial systems industry. It is comparable as a national professional federation, but serves the Canadian market rather than competing with FPDC in France.

Others

• Drone Industry Insights: Drone Industry Insights is a global drone market research and consulting firm. It is comparable as an ecosystem participant serving the same civil-drone industry, though it operates as a commercial research provider rather than a member association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/federationdrone
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@federationprofessionnelled3189/playlists
• Facebookfacebook.com/federation.drone.civil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/federationdronecivil
• Instagraminstagram.com/fpdc2013

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Professional Federation of Civilian Drones (FPDC)