Aspiring drone pilots must take a theory test to fly
‘The new scheme will help to tackle sky-tipping because it will allow us to track lost drones and unsafe owners more effectively’
CHILDREN who are given drones this Christmas will have to sit through driving theory-style tests before they can fly them, regulators have said.
People of all ages must show they are capable of flying the devices “safely and legally” by passing a multiplechoice quiz before using their drones.
Anybody who flies a drone without doing so will face fines of up to £1,000 under a system launched by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) today.
It comes as figures reveal a “skytipping” crisis that has seen hundreds of drones crash-landing in trees, parks, gardens, rivers and beaches.
The new regulations, which become law on Nov 30, apply to drones or model aircraft weighing between 250g and 20kg. Anyone who wants to fly one outdoors will have to pass a free online test and get a flyer ID.
The exam will consist of 20 questions about the laws and safety measures relating to remote-controlled aircraft. If aspiring pilots answer 16 correctly, they will be granted an ID, which must be renewed every three years.
There is no limit to the number of times a person can sit the test and no minimum age requirement, but children under 13 can only register with a parent or guardian present.
The tighter regulations and extra cost could make parents think twice before buying their children drones.
With prices ranging from £15 to £194 for cheap models, the flying gadgets have become a popular gift in recent years. But the CAA has raised concerns about the Christmas drone craze, saying families are clueless about the strict laws governing their use.
Anyone over 18 who is responsible for a drone or model aircraft in the weight category will have to pay £9 every year to register as an operator with the CAA.
Each operator will be given a unique code they must display on their device, which the regulator says will allow it to track down dangerous pilots and drones that have been lost.
The “drones reunited” service comes after a quarter of pilots admitted losing their devices mid-flight.
Jonathan Nicholson, CAA spokesman, told The Daily Telegraph: “We believe the new national registration scheme and drones reunited will help to tackle sky-tipping because it will allow us to track lost drones and unsafe owners more effectively.”
The regulator said it expected that 90,000 people would be required to register as operators under the new rules. The British Airline Pilots Association, a trade union for UK pilots, said the scheme would help to improve airspace safety.
In March, it was made illegal to fly a drone within three miles of an airport. It is also illegal to fly them above 400ft.
Drone users who flout the height and airport boundary restrictions or fly negligently could face an unlimited fine, up to five years in prison, or both.