UK UAV Regulations Explained
I had a look around the site, and it seems that the discussion on UAV regulation is mostly centred around America and the FAA. All very informative, but if, like me, you live in England, not very helpful. So, not wanting to get myself into trouble, I headed over to the UK Civil Aviation Authority's website, and searched... and searched... and then gave up, and e-mailed General Enquiries. That was on Thursday. This morning, a friendly and helpful reply landed in my inbox, containing a link to http://www.caa.co.uk/cap722, where a .pdf can be found detailing the UK's UAV regulations. Thinking that this might be useful to other UK users of this site, I thought I'd drop it here. I've attached the .pdf to this post as well, just in case anyone has trouble with the link. Having read through that document, I'll give a quick paraphrased summary. (If you want to read the actual document, the relevant part is Section 2, Chapter 1, the latter part of paragraph 6).
A UAV being flown in UK airspace is exempt from European Small Aircraft regulations if it is under 150kg. UK Regulation Air Navigation Order Article 98 still applies, however, although many articles depend on the aircraft being over 20kg. Basically, this covers reckless and/or negligent behaviour. There are no airworthiness standards for the airframe.
Any UAV that does NOT have a 'sense and avoid' capability must NOT fly:
- in controlled airspace
- in any aerodrome traffic zone (without appropriate permission)
- above 400ft AGL
- beyond visual range OR over 500m from the operator, whichever is LESS
- at night
- over or within 150m of any congested area of a city, town or settlement
- within 50m of any person, vehicle or structure not controlled by the aircraft operator, except during takeoff and landing, when the rule is not within 30m of any person except the operator and any other persons who must be present for the flying of said aircraft.
So, basically very similar to the FAA regulations, but still, it's always better to check. The one fuzzy part is what exactly they mean by a 'congested' area of a city, town or settlement, but I think that's just a case of being sensible and not flying anywhere where a UAV is going to cause problems, either by flying, or by having a problem and crashing (in short, don't fly above anything you're not prepared to ditch onto).
Hope this helps UK UAV fans!
A UAV being flown in UK airspace is exempt from European Small Aircraft regulations if it is under 150kg. UK Regulation Air Navigation Order Article 98 still applies, however, although many articles depend on the aircraft being over 20kg. Basically, this covers reckless and/or negligent behaviour. There are no airworthiness standards for the airframe.
Any UAV that does NOT have a 'sense and avoid' capability must NOT fly:
- in controlled airspace
- in any aerodrome traffic zone (without appropriate permission)
- above 400ft AGL
- beyond visual range OR over 500m from the operator, whichever is LESS
- at night
- over or within 150m of any congested area of a city, town or settlement
- within 50m of any person, vehicle or structure not controlled by the aircraft operator, except during takeoff and landing, when the rule is not within 30m of any person except the operator and any other persons who must be present for the flying of said aircraft.
So, basically very similar to the FAA regulations, but still, it's always better to check. The one fuzzy part is what exactly they mean by a 'congested' area of a city, town or settlement, but I think that's just a case of being sensible and not flying anywhere where a UAV is going to cause problems, either by flying, or by having a problem and crashing (in short, don't fly above anything you're not prepared to ditch onto).
Hope this helps UK UAV fans!
- Attachments:
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CAP722.pdf, 402 KB
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Replies to This Discussion
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Morli on -
Hi Budd,
This will help UK DIYDrone frnds. Thanks for finding it and sharing it here. I could not understand this
" - within 50m of any person, vehicle or structure not controlled by the aircraft operator, except during takeoff and landing, when the rule is not within 30m of any person except the operator and any other persons who must be present for the flying of said aircraft. "
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Permalink Reply by anaximander on -
Yeah, basically the '50m from vehicles and buildings' rule doesn't count while taking off and landing, and the '50m from people' rule is reduced to only 30m from people who aren't involved in the UAV-flying, and as close as you like to the UAV pilot and anyone who's helping out.
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Permalink Reply by Patrick Egan on
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There are other relevant sections in the document.
Section 3 Chapter 1 Page 2
NOTE: 1 Impending changes to regulation
You may want to contact UK CAA to make sure you are operating within the law. Last I had heard, BMFA did not allow for any autonomous (or FPV) flight.
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Permalink Reply by Peter Seddon on -
There is a new version of the Air Navigation Order that has been laid before parliament at the end of November and becomes law 1/01/10 The sections that mainly affect us are:
Small unmanned aircraft
166.—(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 aerial work except in accordance with a permission granted by the CAA.
Small unmanned surveillance aircraft
167.—(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.
The full text can be viewed at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/uksi_20093015_en_1 and the CAA document is at www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP393.pdf
regards Peter
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Permalink Reply by Breaksbassbleeps on -
These rules seem to only apply to model planes/UAVs above 7Kg and which fly below 70kts. I had a look at the CAA website and this seems to back this up. Am I reading this right?
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Gary Mortimer on -
No its everything.
Anything carrying a camera or means of automatic flight, even with pilot in the loop is a UAS.
If you wish to make money you must have an operators certificate, if you are flying for fun don't go heavier than 7kg.
I stand to be corrected on all of that!
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Gary Mortimer on -
Got to love the ANO ;-)
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Permalink Reply by anaximander on
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So on the whole, the rule seems to be visual contact/within 500m, under 400ft AGL, keep clear of buildings, vehicles and other people, not in busy airspace, not over anything that it'd be bad to land/crash on (busy towns, large groups of people, etc), don't drop anything, and don't fly if you're not sure it's safe. All reasonable, common sense really.
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Gary Mortimer on -
Yep and don't do anything for money unless you have an operators certificate.
My understanding is once the CAA has enough data they will start moving things on a bit.
Thank goodness
Not sure how up to date this is http://www.mycloudbase.com/google/ you might find it useful.
I have to keep up via traditional methods at work.
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Permalink Reply by Ryan on -
yeah this is a pity as I have just been offered a job with my aircraft for basically what could almost be a weeks wages for one days full flying.....Now how do you get an operators certificate.....
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Permalink Reply by Martin Ball on -
I know this is probably well past its required date but I found this:
http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=33&pagetype=65&... - Application for Operation
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/264GA.pdf - Section 3.8
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