Amateur Drone Rules UK

Amateur Drone Rules UK

If you’re not planning on trying to get paid for your drone flying, then there is no legal requirement for any training yet …. But you absolutely must comply with the dronecode and other rules and regulations around flying your drone.

When you fly your done in the UK you need to be aware that the UK’s airspace is extremely busy with light aircraft, military jets and helicopters operating at low level. There are companies that offer short introductory lessons for new drone users that will help you to both fly safely and also teach you the basics of controlling your expensive drone to avoid early accidents.

Don’t Fly Near Airfields / Airports

Remember to Stay Below 400ft / 120m

Observe your drone, stay 150ft     away from people and property

Never fly near Aircraft

Enjoy Responsibly

 

The full regulations are shown below.

Article 241 endangering safety of any person or property

A person must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger
any person or property

Article 94 small unmanned aircraft

(1) A person must not cause or permit any article or animal (whether or not
attached to a parachute) to be dropped from a small unmanned aircraft so as to
endanger persons or property.

(2) The person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft may only fly the aircraft if
reasonably satisfied that the flight can safely be made.

(3) The person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft must maintain direct,
unaided visual contact with the aircraft sufficient to monitor its flight path in
relation to other aircraft, persons, vehicles, vessels and structures for the
purpose of avoiding collisions.

(4) The person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft which has a mass of more
than 7kg excluding its fuel but including any articles or equipment installed in or
attached to the aircraft at the commencement of its flight, must not fly the
aircraft:

(a) in Class A, C, D or E airspace unless the permission of the appropriate air
traffic control unit has been obtained;

(b) within an aerodrome traffic zone during the notified hours of watch of the
air traffic control unit (if any) at that aerodrome unless the permission of
any such air traffic control unit has been obtained;
or
(c) at a height of more than 400 feet above the surface unless it is flying in
airspace described in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) and in accordance with the
requirements for that airspace.

(5) The person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft must not fly the aircraft for
the purposes of commercial operations except in accordance with a permission granted by
the CAA.

Article 95 small unmanned surveillance aircraft

(1) The person in charge of a small unmanned surveillance aircraft must not fly the
aircraft in any of the circumstances described in paragraph (2) except in
accordance with a permission issued by the CAA.

(2) The circumstances referred to in paragraph (1) are:

(a) over or within 150 metres of any congested area;

(b) over or within 150 metres of an organised open-air assembly of more than
1,000 persons;

(c) within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the
control of the person in charge of the aircraft;
or
(d) subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), within 50 metres of any person.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), during take-off or landing, a small unmanned
surveillance aircraft must not be flown within 30 metres of any person.

(4) Paragraphs (2)(d) and (3) do not apply to the person in charge of the small
unmanned surveillance aircraft or a person under the control of the person in
charge of the aircraft.

(5) In this article ‘a small unmanned surveillance aircraft’ means a small unmanned
aircraft which is equipped to undertake any form of surveillance or data
acquisition.

UK Government publishes response to drone consultation

Drones will have to be registered and users will have to sit safety awareness tests under new rules to better regulate their growing use, the government announced.

Owners of drones weighing 250 grams and over will in future have to register details of their drones to improve accountability and encourage owners to act responsibly.

Emergency Services given general exemption

A general exemption has been issued to the emergency services when using small unmanned aircraft in short term reactive situations.

EASA consultation on UAS regulation

EASA is consulting on its proposed European Rules for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. View EASA’s consultation on Unmanned Aircraft Systems regulation. Note that the consultation period has now been extended to 15 September 2017.

We have produced an outline of EASA’s consultation document to provide readers with a simple explanation of the general intent behind the key parts of the proposed regulation.