The drone code

The same rules and guidelines apply to both hobbyists and commercial drone pilots, but to fly commercially you’ll need to have permission from the CAA

Don’t fly near airports or airfields and avoid other objects while flying. Remember to fly below 400ft (120m) to reduce likelihood of conflict with manned aircraft. Observe your drone at all times so you can see and avoid other things while flying. Keep a distance of 150ft (50m) from people and property – increased to 500ft (150m) with crowds and built-up areas. Never fly near aircraft – it’s a criminal offence to endanger aircraft safety, with a five-year jail term! E njoy responsibly – you are legally responsible for each flight, and failure to fly responsibly could result in criminal prosecution.

The Hobbyist

A hobbyist can buy and fly any drone providing they abide by two rules: the drone weighs under 20kg and the operator isn’t receiving payment of any sort. Any drone operator flying for any form of payment must apply for permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK. The governing body varies from country to country, for the USA try www.faa.gov, or Australia it’s www.casa.gov.au. If you’re outside of these areas flying drones, be sure to ingratiate yourself with the relevant local aviation authority.

The Comm ercial pilot

Drone hobbyists don’t need to apply for permission from the CAA, but any operations for commercial gain need to be approved in the form of a PfCO (Permission for Commercial Operations). There are several ways to achieve this, but Brent’s preference is to use 3iC (www.3iC.co.uk) to train online, which involves theoretical study, writing operation manuals and a two-hour flight assessment. Once everything is approved by the CAA you can then fly drones and operate them for commercial gain.

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