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The alleged drone sightings which brought Gatwick airport to a standstill prior to Christmas led many to call for the law on drone operation to be changed. Drones and model aircraft were nevertheless a popular Christmas gift. So what does the law say about the operation of unmanned aircraft and where can you legally fly your latest gadget?
The law on operation of unmanned aircraft was in fact tightened up on 30th July 2018 when it became illegal to fly your drone above 400ft or within 1km of an airport or airfield boundary.
A useful website https://dronesafe.uk/ provides details of the Drone Code compiled by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Drones should always be kept within sight of the pilot and must be flown in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. As well as the height restriction of 400 feet you must keep the drone at least 150 feet from people and properties and 500 feet from crowds and built-up areas and you must not overfly without CAA permission.
As a drone pilot you are legally responsible for the flight and a failure to fly responsibly could result in criminal prosecution. If your drone endangers the safety of an aircraft it is also a criminal offence with a possible sentence of up to 5 years imprisonment.
Different rules apply to commercial drone operators who would need to check with the CAA to ensure their activity is authorised.
If you are concerned about drone misuse, you should contact the police in the first instance. If your concerns relate to privacy rather than safety, then you should contact the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).
So where can you safely fly your drone? In some areas of the country such as London and surrounding area it is extremely difficult to find places to legally and safely fly a drone. Elsewhere in the country it is best to seek out large areas of open ground but check before you fly in case local byelaws and restrictions apply. Council websites can be a useful source of information.
If you are involved in a dispute over drone flights, contact our litigation team which is led by Simon King on (01827) 317071 or sking@pickerings-solicitors.com
The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.
