Airspace restrictions for remotely piloted aircraft and drones

Flights of drones and remotely piloted aircraft around most aerodromes (those designated as protected aerodromes) are restricted. Drones and remotely piloted aircraft of any size must not be flown within the Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) of a protected aerodrome, without appropriate permission.

The FRZ consists of three elements:

• A zone with the same dimensions as the existing Aerodrome Traffic Zone used by traditional aviation. This is a 2 or 2.5 nautical mile radius ‘cylinder’ around the aerodrome, extending 2,000 ft above ground level, centred on the longest runway.
• Runway Protection Zones: A rectangle extending 5Km from the threshold (end) of each runway away from the aerodrome, along the extended runway centreline, and 500m either side - also to a height of 2,000 ft above ground level.
• Additional Zones: In the case where a line that is drawn 1Km beyond the boundary of an aerodrome extends beyond the Aerodrome traffic zone, and so would not be protected by it, the flight restriction zone will include a ‘bump’ (the airfield boundary + 1KM) to protect this part of the aerodrome.

The diagram above gives an impression of these restrictions. The exact shape of the FRZ varies depending on the specific aerodrome. Prior to flying (unless you have permission to use the areas) you should check to make sure that you are operating well outside these areas from the official sources:

• The UK Aeronautical Information Publication
• The UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication

NATS also publishes a map of the restrictions and  downloadable versions of this data, as Google Earth or AIXM files. Other UAS mapping and planning websites exist, which also contain this information.

Temporary airspace restrictions may be added at any time which are not displayed on the map.

The list of protected aerodromes also includes heliports, these only comprise the circular (ATZ) portion of the FRZ (and additional zones where applicable), and do not include runway protection zones.

In the case of a protected aerodrome without an ATZ, the FRZ includes an ATZ shaped FRZ, with a 2nm radius (regardless of the runway length).

Permission must be obtained from the relevant person before a drone or remotely piloted aircraft may fly within a FRZ. Normally this would be achieved by contacting air traffic control at the airfield. If this is not possible, because the airfield has closed or there was no air traffic control service in the first place, then permission must be sought from the aerodrome operator.

Flights of drones and remotely piloted aircraft around protected space sites are restricted under Air Navigation Order article 94BA. A space site FRZ is a cylinder with radius of 5Km centred on the mid-point of the launch pad, and a height of 2,000ft above ground level.

A protected space site includes:

• Space ports (as defined in the Space Industry act 2018)

An installation at sea, at which controlled and planned landings of spacecraft take place or are to take place, which can be moved from place to place without major dismantling or modification.

We issue guidance to aerodromes in CAP 722C to assist with making decisions about issuing permission for drone and remotely piloted aircraft operations within their FRZ. If you have applied for permission to operate, but believe that this was rejected without proper consideration of the interests set out in CAP722C (i.e. aviation safety, security or other operational interests) then you may notify us via our online form:

Airspace Access reporting form

We cannot investigate each report, and you may not receive further correspondence after you submit the form, but we do monitor trends of reports and act where appropriate and necessary.

The aviation regulations only address the flight safety aspects of the flight and they do not constitute permission to disregard the legitimate interests of other statutory bodies such as the Police and Emergency Services, the Highway Agency, local authorities or any other statutory body. As the range and scale of unmanned aircraft operations continues to grow, statutory bodies are increasingly aware of how unmanned aircraft operations will affect their areas of responsibility and are developing specific policy, guidelines and byelaws.

In many circumstances, the operation of drones and remotely piloted aircraft falls within the remit of non-aviation national legislation, and local byelaws, for example public-order offences, ensuring pedestrian and vehicle rights-of-way, security and safety in public places and at schools, limits on recreational activities in public parks etc.

Drone and remotely piloted aircraft operators should also be mindful of the requirements of Section 76(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 in relation to trespass and nuisance, noting that they must comply, at all times, with the relevant operating regulations.

Drones and remotely piloted aircraft should be flown at a height over the property of another person which is ‘reasonable’ in all circumstances. Failure to do so could amount to trespass if the flight interferes with another person’s ordinary use and enjoyment of land and the structures upon it.