Red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag. The vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag). The colors recall Norway’s past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue).

Flag courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Map courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Google Earth

Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle built to protect the city of Oslo; construction dates back to the late 1290s. Today the grounds house several museums and are popular visitor destination.

Photo courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Government

According to Britannica, Norway is a constitutional hereditary monarchy. The government, comprising the prime minister and the Statsråd (Council of State), is nominally chosen by the monarch with the approval of the Storting (Stortinget), the country’s legislature. Until 2009 the Storting operated as a bicameral body, though most matters were addressed in unicameral plenary sessions. Only when voting on laws was the Storting divided into two houses. One-fourth of the members were chosen to constitute the Lagting, or upper house, while the remaining members constituted the Odelsting, or lower house. Bills had to be passed by both houses in succession. In 2009 the Lagting was dissolved, and the Storting became permanently unicameral.

The constitution of Norway, drafted in 1814 when Norway left the 434-year union with Denmark, was influenced by British political traditions, the Constitution of the United States, and French Revolutionary ideas. Amendments can be made by a two-thirds majority in the Storting. Unlike many parliamentary forms of legislature, the Storting cannot be dissolved during its four-year term of office (amendments to overturn this restriction have been defeated frequently since 1990). If a majority of the Storting votes against an action advocated by the Statsråd, the minister responsible or the whole Statsråd resigns. In legislative matters the monarch has a suspending right of veto, but, since the 91-year union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905, this veto has never been exercised.

The Sami Act of 1987 sought to enable the Sami people “to safeguard and develop their language, culture, and way of life” and created the Sameting, the Sami Parliament, the business of which, according to the constitution, is “any matter that in the view of the parliament particularly affects the Sami people.”

The Finnmark Act, adopted by the Storting in 2005, transferred some 95 percent of the fylke (county) of Finnmark from state ownership to its residents through the establishment of the Finnmark Estate. The act recognized in particular that the Sami people, through protracted traditional use of the area, had acquired individual and collective ownership of the area and the right to use its land and water.

The city of Oslo constitutes one of the country’s 19 fylker (counties). The other counties are divided into rural and urban municipalities, with councils elected every fourth year (two years after the Storting elections). For the country as a whole, the municipal elections tend to mirror the party division of the Storting. The municipal councils elect a board of aldermen and a mayor. Many municipalities also employ councillors for such governmental affairs as finance, schools, social affairs, and housing. Norwegians pay direct taxes to both federal and municipal governments.

The counties can levy taxes on the municipalities for purposes such as roads, secondary schools, and other joint projects. The county councils comprise delegates from the municipalities, while the county governors are appointed by the Statsråd.

Before civil cases ordinarily can be taken to court, they first must be submitted to the local conciliation boards (forliksråd), which settle many issues without recourse to more formal legal action. Decisions of the conciliation boards can be appealed to the courts, and Norway also has a formal system of courts of appeal. The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of legal decisions. The rights of the citizens also are guarded by ombudsmen, who act on their behalf as an intermediary in matters with public administrators.

Civil / National Aviation Authority (CAA/NAA)

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Norway’s main objective is to contribute to safe civil aviation in Norway.

Airspace

SkyVector – Google Maps – ADS-B Exchange

Avinor IPPC

ICAO countries publish an Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). This document is divided into three parts: General (GEN), En Route (ENR) and Aerodromes (AD). ENR 1.4 details the types of airspace classes they chose to adopt from classes A through G. AVINOR AIP

Drone Regulations

Drone Laws

You can register, take online courses and exam at flydrone.no. Telephone hours to reach the section for unmanned aviation are Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10:00 and 14:00.

Guide for flying drones in Norway

In Norway, you are generally allowed to fly in the open category if you are registered as an operator. This does not apply to Russian citizens, as there is a ban on all Russian flights.

Citizens from EU countries

If you are a citizen of an EU country and wish to operate a drone in Norway, you must:

• Be registered as a drone operator in your home country. There is no distinction between flying for recreational or commercial use.
• Have a valid EASA certificate for the relevant subcategory.
  (The Norwegian A1/A3 course and exam are available in English at flydrone.no.)
• Mark the drone with your operator number.You can also use a QR code containing your operator number. The number on your pilot certificate is not valid as a marking.
• Have valid liability insurance. There is no distinction between flying for recreational or commercial use.
• Follow the rules of the open category.
• Check if drone flying is permitted in the area before taking off.
• Before flying with sensors, you must register the use of photos, video and other sensors with the Norwegian National Security Authority.

Russian citizens

Since 28 February 2022, Russian flights have been banned from using Norwegian airspace.

• Read more about the ban in the article: Russian citizens are not allowed to fly in Norway, Svalbard or Jan-Mayen.
• It is permitted that Russian citizens, as employees (or similar), can fly a UAS to benefit operators not subject to the sanctions.

Citizens from other countries

If you are a citizen from a country outside the EU, you must:

• Be registered as a drone operator in an EU country or Norway. You should register in the first country where you plan to operate. For Norway, you can register at flydrone.no. There is no distinction between flying for recreational or commercial use.
• Have a valid EASA certificate for the relevant subcategory.
  (The Norwegian A1/A3 course and exam are available in English at flydrone.no.)
• Mark the drone with your operator number. You can also use a QR code containing your operator number. The number on your pilot certificate is not valid as a marking.
• Have valid liability insurance. There is no distinction between flying for recreational or commercial use.
• Follow the rules of the open category.
• Check if drone flying is permitted in the area before taking off.
• Before flying with sensors, you must register the use of photos, video and other sensors with the Norwegian National Security Authority.

C-UAS

Countering the Drone Threat: Implications of C-Uas Technology for Norway in an EU and NATO Context

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

Short Essay Questions