A Guide to Drone Flying in the UK | Regulations, Subcategories, & Where to Fly
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2023
- Are you an aspiring drone pilot in the United Kingdom? In this informative video, we dive into the world of drone flying and explore the regulations set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Join us as we reference the CAA's CAP722 document, specifically focusing on the A1, A2, and A3 subcategories within the Open Category. We'll discuss the qualifications needed for each subcategory, the weight restrictions, and most importantly, where you can fly your drone legally and responsibly. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced drone enthusiast, understanding these regulations is crucial for a safe and enjoyable drone flying experience. Tune in now to learn more and take to the skies with confidence!
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I learnt more from this 12 minute video than i have in 2 weeks looking elsewhere . This is my second attempt at getting started in being a recreational drone pilot. Why does it need to be so complicated. Thanks for your efforts . I've liked and subscribed, 10/10.
Totally agree, I have been researching for a number of weeks before deciding to buy and about to decide not to, best explanation on CZcams!!!
I've been looking for Uk rules for almost two months and this is by far the most clear info Thank you❤.
Thanks for your comment 😊 I’m glad it helped.
Well done mate you didn’t send me asleep in 3 minutes like geeksvana does
Thanks for the info and the way you explained it.
Thank you ☺️
great video, thank you
Thank you for that, this is very helpful 👍
Thanks for the comment and I’m glad it’s helped
@@Firefly_UAV I fly mini 3 and although it’s less than 250g we all need to know the regulations to fly safe.
Excellent really informative video 💯
Thank you
Any Low Flying Areas you got to make sure theres no aircraft around near by. Its better to have a flight tracker or a scanner to ensure your drone and pilots aircraft safety
Also i would say if your in the likes of the mach loop, ogwen valley, parts of the lake district and so on just call the nearest raf base to ensure theres no flights passing through or over where you are going to use your drone at that certain period of time
Legend
Great video would be great if you could cover whats required going from hobbiest (operator and flyer ID) to commercial GVC and A2 certification or when they apply.
Thanks for your comment 👍 So the A2cofc is covered in the video I think. To fly commercially you need the correct insurance for commercial work.
The GVC is a whole different thing. You fly in the specific category and the open categories don’t apply at all. Each operational authorisation may be different for each permission. With the basic permission you will be able to overfly uninvolved people as long as you’re 50m above them with 30mm on takeoff and landing. You need to get your GVC and then pay the CAA £250 for the first year and a bit cheaper every year to maintain your OA. There aren’t mass classes in the specific category like there are in the open
Thanks!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it 😊
Thanks for a nice clear overview. When I left the UK a few years back quad flying was just a hobby and the rules were "don't hit people". Not at all surprising that the government shoved its nose in once it started getting popular so I've had to learn new specific ruling for something I previously didn't have to think about.
Thanks for the comment. I’m glad the video helped. What do you fly?
@@Firefly_UAV At this very moment, nothing. I'm wanting to get back to it and try again. I still have the setup I was using before I left, but I've discovered it's a LOT more out of date than I thought!
Built myself, it's an AlienCopter frame, PropDrive 2826 1200kv motors, can't remember what the escs are, and an old KK2.1 controller board. I figured it would all be be obsolete and "old tech" by now but after some research I realise just how much! 🤣
The plan was to strip and rebuild this one and maybe modernise it a little but given how much I'd be looking to replace the only thing I'd end up keeping would be the frame! So I think what I'll do now is rebuild it with fresh wires, solder, etc, but leave the parts as is and keep it as a classic. Then down the line just build a new one anyway with all shiny new bits. Want to go fpv with that next one, that looks like a ton of fun 😁
Thanks very much for making this video. The thing that has confused me about the June 2023 update was in relation to new 150m residential and commercial separation / distrance rules for drones over 500g. With my A2CofC I was previously able to do commercial survey work and property videos at 50m with an Air 2s (sub 2kg drone at 595g) but does this mean that now it can only be done with something like a Mini 3 or 4 pro?
First the law hasn’t changed in the last couple of years, what has changed is the advice offered by the CAA. It’s was often assumed that people being in a building is sufficient protection from the drone if it flies out of control, but if those people come out of the building then that protection is lost.
Unless you’re flying your 500g> drone in an industrial estate on a Sunday morning you can never really know if someone is about to come out of a building or not. For me I’ve never flown my Air2s in built up areas for inspections / surveys etc because you never know when so one might choose to come out of any building. I’ve always used a sub250g drone. The A2cofc is almost useless for anything over 500g in my opinion. Even with a GVC and OA it’s very difficult to maintain separation distances in built up areas. Being 50m up isn’t much use for roof surveys!
If we get acceptance of C class drones and permission to fly them in the A1 subcategory then that will be a game changer! The Air2s is due to get a C1 marking apparently too!
I agree with the footpath argument. The rights for Footpaths are made for travelling across the land and not stopping on the land 👍
Thanks for your comment. That's how I understand it too
If I want to fly A1 with my Mini 4 Pro but using the "Plus" battery (which pushes it a smidge over 250g), is there any way to do that? - I understand I need a flyer ID in addition to the operator ID, but that seems to limit me to A2? - I'm getting conflicting information that the a2 cofc certificate allows A1 flying for sub 500g drones, but that this is outdated and transitionary and totally useless in 2024? - Any solution for legally flying a 286g take off weight drone under Open Category A1?
Most of the countryside where I live is beautiful and makes for great drone footage, but restrictions seem to prevent me from flying anywhere (e.g. Dartmoor National Park have a blanket ban). My next option would be from coastal paths, but much of the coast is owned and maintained by the National Trust. I'm unclear from your advice whether footpaths that cross National Trust land are included in their prohibition and whether it is permitted to take off from them if there are no persons about. Also, having taken off from the path, then surely I am flying over National Trust property and will fall foul of their ban? Just out of interest do you have any knowledge of policies in other National Parks? For instance the South Downs seem to be a lot more lenient and reasonable from what I can gather.
Hi I fly a mini 2 se atm , i am looking to get a dji air 3 , can i fly this with the flyer id and operator Id with no other qualifications as I am not planning to fly in built up areas /over people and only 150 meters away from such is this something I can do with just the above mentioned?? Thanks in advance
Thanks for the question. Yes you can fly that in the A3 subcategory with a flyer and operator ID
I had a full licence for 7 years which was the PfCO then it became the OA . I’m now out of it for a couple of years.
Are you returning to the industry? In some ways it’s much easier to get back into commercial work, but in other ways it’s more difficult because anyone with a drone can now do it
@@Firefly_UAV I will return. But not as much as I did. I feel happier operating my new mini pro too be honest. Also fed up with all the Audits going to industrial sites and giving the drone industry a bad name
The mini 3 pro should be renamed the mini ‘stealth’ it’s so quiet! It’s a real shame that some are exercising the permissions that we have in such a way that we’re Lilly to loose some of those permissions
Thank you for this very informative video. I live in the United States and hold an FAA Part 107 UAS Pilot certification which is required for commercial UAS pilots and I'm curious to know if you know whether having this certification will or does serve to satisfy the education requirement of the A2 and A3 categories? Thanking you in advance, Ken Jones
Glad it was helpful! I expect the part 107 will cover Al lot of what’s in the A2cofc, but not the UK specific rules. Check out UAVHUB as they offer a free A2cofc course without the exam
@@Firefly_UAV Thanks for the direction. It’s very much appreciated.
What app did you mention about no fly zones?
It’s the drone assist app from altitude angel. Technically they are flight restricted zones
In terms of privacy, whats the difference with looking at someones garden on Google earth or walking past a house on a high street where you can see into their window?
I think the difference is the camera, or the perception of the camera. I don’t think anyone wants a camera pointed at their house regardless if it’s recording or not. Personally I never have a private home as the main subject in my pictures or videos unless I’ve been instituted to do so by the owners of the home
The byzantine UK rules have managed to make the US FAA regs look plain and simple. Good job.
I seems the UK is lagging behind many country’s right now. The rules in the EU are broadly the same, but they have the big advantage of C class drones that offer many more freedoms
Hi I’ve watched many channels on CZcams but I fine yours very good So what’s the law if I wanted to fly far and I have spotters is that ok or not so much has change I e subscribe
Thanks for your comment. At the moment extended visual line of sight (EVLOS) isn’t really a thing you can do in the UK. I think it can be done in the USA, but that’s not really my area of expertise
@@Firefly_UAV okey thanks
Im currently booked in for infrared training and buying the enterprise 3 thermal for property inspections. I was going to book in for the a2 but looking at these laws im worried that i may be spending alot of money for something i cant use shortly
You’re not doing a GVC? Where are you planning on doing thermal inspections? Big houses on their own or semidetached / terraced? If you’re working in more congested places you may be better off with your GVC and operational authorisation. That will allow you to fly in a 50m bubble from uninvolved people.
@@Firefly_UAV I thought the gvc was mainly for heavier drones. If that's the one I need I'll get it done. It will be for mainly built up areas finding leaks on roofs heat loss and so on. Thanks for your feedback
It’s really for anything where you need the permissions. If you have to fly greater mass than 500g in built up areas it’s really the best thing. I’ve let mine lapse as I can get away with a mini 3pro.
Check out UAVHUB which is where I did minor and I’d recommend them
@@Firefly_UAV think my only concern is what happens if I spend the time and money and it ends up been for nothing if gvc is no longer recognized in 2026 as well as my drone been moved into cat 3. But confusing very new for me. If I didn't need the thermal I'd just play it safe and get sub 250 but unfortunately I do
@@troutdoors1996 you need to build your GVC and CAA submission costs into your business plan. It’s going to cost maybe 600 in the first year then a couple of hundred every year after that. I don’t think it will become unrecognised in 2026, it may replaced, but even the PFCO are transferring to GVC now. What you will learn will put you in good stead as far as risk assessments and working in a professional way, that’s worth having!
Don’t parrot do a thermal drone that’s under 500g?
For drone racing, I assume that the CAA rules don't apply when flying INDOORS with drones designed to far exceed the 45mph limits... say, in a warehouse racecourse. But, what about private land for outdoor racing?
What's the height limit, below which CAA regs don't apply? There HAS to be one, surely. Is it "below the height of fixed obstructions" ? I'd like to fly 100mph+ course-racing drones on private land (with netted borders if required) - on land that I'm allowed to shoot shotguns and air rifles - but where's the CAA exception? Nobody seems to know.
A very good informational video, very helpful. What would be really useful though would be a video explaining from the other side of the fence so to speak, ie what are your rights regarding coming across a drone being flown near you and or over your property?
Can you legally take it down? Eg with a catapult or stick? How do you find out if the pilot is licensed? What if the pilot is uncooperative by not giving his details, license info etc? Will the police respond to a complaint about a drone on or near your property etc?
Thanks in advance.”
Thanks for your comment. It’s very difficult to know what mass any drone is when flying, unless you know your drones well. Even then you also don’t know what qualifications any remote pilot might have to fly over you or your property.
In most cases you can fly above someone’s house or property and it’s not trespass,
It is reasonable to expect the height of the drone to be such not to disturb you or put you in danger though.
You can’t shoot down a drone that’s above your property. People have done this and it always ended up with them in court!
The best you can do is report the flight to the police. Tech exists to trace drones and their pilots, it’s not available to every police officer though.
What issues are you having?
What’s the name of the app ?
Drone assist?
Will they no im flying without a licence
Is all I need to no
Not until you get caught!
@Firefly_UAV that'll do me ,cheers bro
They’ll likely also confiscate your drone, and controller. Depending where you’re flying you could also get up to a 5k fine and some prison time.
Personally I’d just spend £10 a year and fly within the rules
I live on the west coast of Scotland in the middle of nowhere nearest village/town is almost 2 miles away although yes I'm intending on illegally piloting a drone however it's not like I'm at Glasgow Airport being nuisance
It looks like it’s impossible to fly anywhere these days.
How come? When I started flying we could only really fly in the A3 subcategory, but now we have many more places to fly that are closer to people and buildings
@@Firefly_UAV Yes but as you said in your video where the dog went for the drone. That was a “footpath” and most public places are footpaths. If you go to the coast, the majority of it is owned by someone like the National Trust. I have a Mavic Pro 2 and hardly ever fly it now.
Yeah it was a footpath. I’ve flown from footpaths many times, but when people weren’t about and when I could take off and land without anyone being affected. If you’re hovering you’re drone at 2 ft with dogs, and people approaching you really deserve why you get
Wherever the hell I want to. You just have to be willing to walk away from the Drone at any point. What drone Pilots need to do is get together with some Mass non-compliance. Instead of sitting here and trying to outdo each other on who knows more of the technicalities of some stupid edict. Remember you can go out right now and buy a Ultra Lite airplane and fly it with absolutely no license whatsoever. Think about that for a minute
Well the chances of coppers understanding also are pretty slim
I think it’s better to be as informed as you can be, don’t you’re ever questioned about the legality of a flight you know where you stand