New UK drone laws- What you need to know.

Amendments to the ANO (Air Navigation Order 2016)  (30 May 2018)

©Flyby Photography 2018 All Rights Reserved

New laws are being implemented to improve airspace safety.

These rules will come into effect on 30 july 2018. 

• ​All drone flights are now restricted to a maximum height (AGL) above ground level of 400ft, commercial operators are already limited to this unless they have a OSC- operational safety case approved by the CAA- Civil Aviation Authority granting them permission to fly higher- typically up to 600ft.

Hobby flights were up to now not restricted, as long as the drone was within visual line of sight within all times of the flight, meaning that they could often fly up to 1000ft high to capture images. It should be noted that at present, these rules will not effect FPV (first person view) flights with a spotter present- they can still fly up to 1000ft.
The new rules are coming into force to ensure there is a sufficient separation between drones and manned aircraft, which have a minimum flight height of 500ft AGL, meaning that UAVs and manned aircraft should never come into contact with each other.

• Another new rule coming into effect is that there is a restriction of operating drones within 1km of protected aerodromes in the UK, unless you have the permission of the ATC- Air Traffic Control in question.

These rules will come into effect on 30 November 2019, allowing drone users time to adjust, and the CAA to build the systems and resources that will be required to implement the new scheme:

• All drones that weigh over 250g are to be registered with the CAA- Civil Aviation Authority.
• Pilots flying these drones must obtain an acknowledgement of competency from the Civil Aviation Authority, having to sit an online safety test to demonstrate knowledge of the restrictions and rules that are in place before being allowed to fly.

Where drone operations are deemed to be safe enough, the CAA will have the power to exempt operators from adhering to these rules. This will allow safe, innovative and positive commercial use of drone technology to continue.

Drone users who flout the new height and airport boundary restrictions could be charged with recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or any person in an aircraft. This could result in an unlimited fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
Users who fail to register or sit the competency tests could face fines of up to £1,000.

What do you think of these new rules? Let us know in the comments.