New regulations from 31 December 2020
The UK's drone rules change on 31 December 2020. Most users will now fly in the new Open Category. Other categories are Specific and Certified. A set of factsheets are available to explain how your flying will be affected.
UAS Airspace Restrictions Guidance and Policy
10 December 2020 - We have published CAP 722C – UAS Airspace Restrictions Guidance and Policy which describes the policy and guidance for organisations or individuals who wish to restrict or facilitate UAS operations with an airspace restriction.
Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace - Guidance
05 November 2020 - We have now published Edition 8 of CAP 722 Unmanned Aircraft System
Operations in UK Airspace – Guidance which provides updated guidance to
all involved with the operation of unmanned aircraft in the UK. Its content
reflects the effect of the new UAS regulations that become applicable from 31
December 2020.
UAS Master Glossary and Abbreviations
16 October 2020 - We have now
published CAP 722D – UAS Operations in UK Airspace – Master Glossary and
Abbreviations which provides the Master Glossary definitions and abbreviations
for the complete CAP722 series of documents.
Electronic conspicuity devices
Rebates of up to £250 for new Electronic Conspicuity (EC) devices are now available to some operators thanks to funding from the Department for Transport (DfT). See www.caa.co.uk/ec
Guidance and policy: Rotary wing Swarm Operations
25 August 2020 - We have published CAP 722E Rotary Wing Swarm Operations – Visual Line of Sight – Requirements, Guidance & Policy to enable UAS operators to understand the requirements that must be met as part of an application for operational authorisations related to rotary wing UAS swarm operations in visual line of sight (VLOS).
UAS Guidance for
COVID-19 BVLOS Operations
01 May 2020 - We have published CAP1915 UAS guidance for COVID-19 BVLOS
Operations which enables
UAS operators to apply for UAS BVLOS authorisations aimed at supporting the
COVID-19 response more effectively and efficiently. It first describes
the general factors relevant to the CAA when considering whether to grant an
authorisation for UAS BVLOS operations and then describes the specific technical
and operational characteristics that bound a simple BVLOS operation. It
also outlines the prioritisation that the CAA will afford to applications in
support of the NHS, National Public Health organisations or any similar trust
or organisation.
Reduction in UAS flying currency requirements
Understandably in the current situation UAS operators/remote pilots have found it increasingly difficult to maintain their two hours of flying currency within the last three months, leading up to the renewal of their Permission or Exemption.
We require these hours so that remote pilots retain the necessary skills required to operate unmanned aircraft safely. It also helps to make sure systems are in good working order prior to conducting operations by having any required software updates downloaded, installed and tested, as well as ensuring batteries are in a safe condition for flight.
As an interim measure, we will now require operators/remote pilots to use their unmanned aircraft for one hour, prior to undertaking any operation. This allows operators to check their unmanned aircraft is performing correctly following a period of storage. Remote pilots will also be required to undertake a minimum of one take-off and landing to ensure they have refreshed their competence of operating unmanned aircraft, and to make sure they are working to the processes and procedures defined in their relevant operations manual. Records/logs for these flights must be maintained for the UAS Unit to check compliance during any future oversight audits.
We will let you know when his interim measure will cease once the UK Government has lifted the COVID-19 restrictions.
Temporary prioritisation of Operating Safety Cases for COVID-19
We normally only prioritise applications from the Police, Fire or Ambulance Services. All other applications are reviewed on a first come, first served basis.
However, following queries about putting in place prioritisation for use of UAS for COVID-19 work we believe it is appropriate to also prioritise these applications.
What can be prioritised?
We will prioritise applications that have the most potential to mitigate harm from the COVID-19 outbreak. In assessing these we will only prioritise applications where the operator has had their services specifically requested by one of the following organisations in relation to COVID-19:
- UK National Health Service Hospital or NHS Trust;
- UK Police Service;
- UK Fire Service;
- UK Ambulance Services or;
- Applications that have been specifically recommended/requested by a Government department.
We cannot guarantee priority of any application. This interim measure may affect the processing times of other, non-COVID-19 related, applications.
How to submit an application
The process for submitting applications remains the same. We ask operators to use SRG1320, which is the form for Applications for Exemption or Permission for Operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in UK Airspace to the CAA.
In Section 10 of this form (titled Additional Information) please state that you have had services requested from one of the organisations indicated above and include evidence of this in your documentation. This will enable the team to prioritise the assessment of the application appropriately.
Additional guidance
CAP 722A outlines how an applicant completes a safety assessment as part of the application process for a permission or exemption.
Duration of COVID-19 interim prioritisation by UAS Unit
This prioritisation will remain in place until the end of May 2020, at which point it will be reviewed and renewed if appropriate.
Granting permission for Small Unmanned Aircraft to operate within Protected Aerodrome Flight Restrictions Zones: Guidance to Protected Aerodrome Operators
12 April 2019 – We have published guidance to aerodrome operators and providers of ATS at aerodromes with FRZs, to more fully inform their decision to grant or deny permission for small unmanned aircraft to operate within their Flight Restriction Zones (FRZs): CAP1788 SUA Permission Guidance
Drone safety risk
January 2018 - The CAA has published
an assessment of the drone safety risk.
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