The laws governing on the flying of drones have been updated within the past 12 months, and if you haven't had a chance to read them, we have got you covered here at Vapextech.

We have put together a recap of existing laws and the updates which came into effect in November 2019, to ensure you have confidence in remaining a responsible drone user.

The Latest Drone Laws

Owners of drones that weigh 250 grams or more will be required to register with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with drone pilots required to take an online safety test. Failure to comply with these rules can lead to fines of up to £1000.

Fixed penalty notices will also be attached to the following offences -

  • Not producing registration documentation, and/or proof of registration for drones over 250g, at the request of a police constable.
  • Not producing evidence of any other relevant permissions required by legislation.
  • Not complying with a police officer when instructed to land a drone.
  • Flying a drone without valid acknowledgement of competency, or failure to provide evidence of meeting this competency requirement when requested.

These fixed penalty notices are capped at £100, so make sure you are clued up on the law to avoid nasty charges.

Established UK Drone Laws

The following offences can lead to a five-year prison sentence, an unlimited fine or both:

  • A person must not recklessly or negligently act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or any person in an aircraft
  • A person must not cause or permit an aircraft to endanger person or property.
  • The following could lead to a fine of £2,500:
  • Drone pilots must maintain direct, unaided visual contact with their drone to ensure the above.
  • Drone pilots may not fly further than 1640ft/500m horizontal distance from themselves.
  • Drone pilots may not fly above 400 feet or within airport restriction zones.
  • If the drone is equipped with a camera, the following offences can lead to a fine of £2,500:
  • It must not be flown within 50m of persons or buildings.
  • It must also not be flown within 150m of densely populated areas.

Got More Questions? Contact Us Now

If you have any questions about the use of drones and their batteries, please get in touch today.