Quick Overview of Generic Rules for ALL Flights in Open Category (for Non CE Marked / Legacy Drones only).

Here’s an extract of rules from the Air Navigation Order that apply to ALL drone flights:

  • Article 240 - must not recklessly or negligently act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or a person within an aircraft.

  • Article 241 - a person must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft (manned or unmanned) to endanger any person or property (which includes other aircraft and their occupants) – also includes vehicles

  • Operator - 18 years (Except <250g private and toys – no min age) and registered

  • Article 94A – No flights within restricted airspace (Restricted Areas, Danger Areas, FRZs) without relevant permission.

Here’s an extract of Guidance from CAP 722 that apply to ALL drone flights:

  • UAS operators must be aware of their responsibilities regarding operations from private land and any requirements to obtain the appropriate permission before operating from a particular site.

  • Observe the relevant trespass laws and do not unwittingly commit a trespass whilst conducting a flight

  • Third party cover required iaw (EC)785/2004 unless recreational or sporting

  • Must not perform their duties while under the influence of psychoactive substances or alcohol or when they are unfit to perform their tasks due to injury, fatigue, medication, sickness or other causes (see 4.2.6 and 4.2.7 below for further details)

  • Remote pilots must not fly when they are unfit to perform their tasks due to injury, fatigue, medication, sickness or ‘other causes’.

  • Ensure that all information regarding the airspace within which the flight will take place has been checked and updated, and any relevant clearances or authorisations have been obtained.

  • Ensure that the operating environment is compatible with the intended flight (weather conditions, electromagnetic energy conditions, survey of obstacles, uninvolved persons, critical infrastructure etc).

  • Ensure that the UAS is in a serviceable condition to complete the intended flight as planned. This includes:

    • updating any relevant geo-awareness data;

    • the completion of any specified pre-flight checks;

    • ensuring that the UA has sufficient fuel to complete the planned operation with any suitable reserve needed to cater for contingencies; Note: the term “fuel” is intended to include all sources of energy for UA, to include (but not limited to) petroleum based, solar, battery or any future source that provides energy to the UA.

    • The checking and, if necessary, programming of any lost C2 Link, return to home, or other emergency recovery function to confirm its serviceability;

    • the security of any payloads fitted to the UA;

    • the operation of any lighting and/or remote identification systems.

  • While the UA is in flight, remote pilots must:

    • Comply with the operational limitations that are applicable to the operating category that the UA is being flown in;

    • Avoid any risk of collision with other aircraft and discontinue the flight if it may pose a risk to other aircraft, persons, environment or property;

    • Comply with the operational limitations regarding to any airspace reservations, Flight Restriction Zones or other UAS related geographical zones that are within or close to the area that the UA is being flown in;

    • Comply with the operating procedures that are set out by the UAS operator;

    • Ensure that the UA is not flown close to or inside any areas where an emergency response effort is ongoing, unless they have permission to do so from the responsible emergency response personnel.

  • If more than one remote pilot is employed, the UAS operator should:

    • develop and produce procedures in order to coordinate the activities between its employees; and

    • establish and maintain a list of their personnel and their assigned duties.

  • UAS Operator

    • ensure personnel are provided with all information related to any geographical zones that are relevant to the UAS.

    • ensure that any applicable geo-awareness systems are up to date.

    • ensure that all involved persons have been informed of the risks and have explicitly agreed to participate.

Remember, this is just a snapshot. Please refer to https://www.caa.co.uk/consumers/unmanned-aircraft-and-drones/ for more details and additional rules that apply. Don’t forget you can use our noflydrones map to see geographical restrictions!