United Kingdom Drone Laws (2022)

Img 1: Aerial Photography In United Kingdom

General United Kingdom Drone Laws
Drone Permits In United Kingdom
Brining Your Drone On Airplanes Guide
Buying Drones In United Kingdom
Drone Travel Guide Articles
Contact Information For Questions

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General United Kingdom Drone Laws

Drone use is allowed in United Kingdom, but there are several drone laws that need to be followed when flying in the country. Operators must ensure that they follow the following drone laws when flying in United Kingdom,

Do not fly your drone over people or large crowds
Respect others privacy when flying your drone
Do not fly your drone over airports or in areas were aircraft are operating
You must fly during daylight hours and only fly in good weather conditions
Do not fly your drone in sensitive areas including government or military facilities. Use of drones or camera drones in these areas are prohibited.
You are responsible for flying your drone in a safe manner
You must keep the drone in your direct sight at all times while it is flying, so that you can ensure that it does not collide with anything, especially other aircraft
You must not endanger anyone, or anything with your drone, including any articles that you drop from it
You must not fly more than 400ft above the surface. If flying over hilly/undulating terrain or close to a cliff edge, this may be interpreted as being a requirement to remain within a distance of 400ft from the surface of the earth, as shown in the picture below
You must not fly within the Flight Restriction Zone of a protected aerodrome
If your drone weighs more than 7kg, additional rules apply if you fly in certain types of airspace.

Permit Needed For Recreational Drone Use?

A drone permit is not required for recreational drone use. unless you wish to fly outside the limit range allowed

Please adhere to the above General United Kingdom Drone Laws however when flying your drone. (What Is Recreational Drone Use?)

Permit Needed For Commercial Drone Use?

A permit is required for commercial drone use in the United Kingdom.

Potential operators are required to provide evidence of pilot competence and an Operations Manual which details how the flights will be conducted.

Click here to get assistance on how to obtain a permit, or contact the local aviation authority. (What Is Commercial Drone Use?)

Bringing Your Drone On Airplanes Guide

For a detailed guide to bringing your drone on airplanes click here. All drones should be brought on carry on luggage if possible. This is because according to the Montreal Convention, airlines are only liable for losses up to ~$1,000 USD. When traveling internationally, theft and lost luggage can be common issues, particularly if your flight has many connections. If your drone is worth more than $1,000 USD and you cannot bring it onto the plane you should consider shipping it with DHL, Fedex, or UPS instead and fully insure the shipment.

You should NOT place drone batteries in your checked baggage. All drone batteries should be placed in a Medium Size Lipo Battery Bag" data-src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=uavsystemsint-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B007V9MN44" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> like the one shown here in the link and brought onto the plane in your carry on bag. Lithium-ion batteries are considered “dangerous goods” by airlines and rules surrounding these batteries on planes are EXTREMELY strict due to multiple incidents of these batteries catching fire. Failure to properly pack lithium-ion batteries in a bag such as the one shown in the link above can result in the airline seizing them, you getting fined, or being denied boarding.

Here is some video footage shot by Jason Hawkes Aerial Photography when flying a drone in United Kingdom.

Buying Drones In United Kingdom

Read all of our United Kingdom Drone Laws, and now looking for drones, parts, accessories, or something else? Read our guide for Buying Drones In United Kingdom. It includes information on drones for sale in United Kingdom, import taxes, payment options, and shipping.

Drone Travel Guide

United Kingdom drone laws are up to date as of March, 2022. Please email [email protected] , or click “leave a message” at the bottom right of the screen if you have any questions or comments.

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