One in four drone f lyers risking fine

ONE in four drone users risk being fined £1,000 for not joining an online register, figures show.

Anyone who owns a drone weighing more than 250g must obtain an operator ID before their gadget is flown outdoors. They are also required to get a separate flyer ID by passing a theory test.

Registration became mandatory on November 29, but now the Civil Aviation Authority says 75,000 drone users have submitted their details, out of an estimated 100,000. Users who fail to register or sit the theory test face fines of up to £1,000. Registration costs £9.

The new rules were introduced as part of a crackdown on drone misuse. In March, the drone no-fly zone around airports was extended from 1km (0.6 miles) to 5km (3.1 miles).

There were 125 near- misses between drones and aircraft reported in 2018, up by more than a third from 93 the previous year.

Drone sightings at Gatwick in December 2018 caused about 1,000 flights to be cancelled or diverted over 36 hours, affecting more than 140,000 passengers.

The CAA has issued advice to people who receive drones as Christmas presents, to ensure they use their new gadgets safely.

In addition to registering, users should read instructions relating to low power warnings and compass settings to avoid a crash, which would be ‘an expensive first flight’, the regulator said.

Among the key rules for drone flyers are staying below 400ft (120m), keeping clear of aircraft and airfields, and not flying close to people or property.