To clarify. 'VLOS' (visual line of sight) does not mean that you have to be looking up at your drone at ALL times. It means that you must keep it in airspace that is not obstructed by trees, buldings etc so it is visible when you look up at it. Many police get this fundamental rule wrong. Police MUST have reasonable grounds that a drone flyer is or has committed an offence as stated in ATMUA Act 2021 (Air Traffic Mangement Unmamanned Aircraft Act) Schedule 9. They have no authority to demand your Operator ID if no offence has been committed. The training of police on this issue is seriously below standard and they are at risk of unlawfully detaining someone.
I Have Bought Potensic Atom Drone Weight 248 Gram Which Is Great Drone Which Has A1 Sub Category Status But It Must Not To Be Flown On Or Over Certain Restricted Areas. I Keep Flying Safe At All Times To Keep My Enjoyable Drone Hobby Working Unhindered
I have passed both the Canadian Basic and the Advanced certification exam as well as the US TRUST exam and the UK Civil Aviation Authority certificate exam. With the exception of more advanced certifications, the rules are more or less the same. The differences can be summarized as follows: In Canada: Certifications exam cost $5 basic / $10 Advanced but do not expire although the Advanced Cert does require a flight reviewer ($200) initially and some form of re-qualification every two years which can be had free of charge. However, Canada's flying authority (TC) does not care why you fly (recreation or work). However, they do care about what you fly (weight) and where. Exams are overly complicated. Tourists cannot fly any drones in Canada. In the US: Their basic online certification is free and easily passed. It does not expire and can be written from any country. The UK: basic certification is free (40 Questions) and can be written from outside the UK. I have. However it does expire every 5 years.
Thanks for Sharing . Old dog preparing before getting a Mav 4 pro. Planning a trip to Ireland and realizing I will have to study two different sets of rules.
This keeping 150m distance from people for open A3 is wrong or I'm reading it wrong. In the CAA manual it says keep a distance of 50m away from people and 150m distance from residential and commercial areas for drones greater than less than 25kg
Brillant. Alot of the A2 Cof C vendors are selling their courses saying you need the certification to fly the DJI Air and Mavic 2 to 50m from people. My understanding, like yours, is until 1st January 2026 old regulations apply, so they can be flown 50m from people (A2). This has a very big impact on me as my only local drone flying site is one park allowing drones. Under A3 i cannot fly here even if there are no people greater than 150m.
I have the DJI Spark and also took the 40 question test and passed. this drone is 300g I have Op Id and Fly id so witth me being new to this hobby could you please point me in the right way to the rules on this particular weight. every thing seems to be based on 249g. any advise would be very much appreciated. thank you
Just bought a second hand Dji fpv drone which is above 250g, I’m in the uk also… I’m trying to find a good video or website to learn what I have to do to be compliant to fly it here in the uk… any help would be appreciated
I don’t think your operator ID changes each year that ID is yours for as long as you fly that drone or drones, other wise you’d be changing your ID stickers each year am I right or wrong
Hi Steve you are correct it has changed. When I renewed in Nov 23 my Operator ID stayed the same the number did not change but the previous renewal in 2022 my Operator ID number did change. I will update the video soon. Thanks for spotting this.
Is the operator registration the same as a drone licence? I can't find info on how to get a drone licence in getting the dji mini 3 but want to put the bigger battery in which will they take it over 250g Thanks
In effect yes the operator Registration is a number you stick to the drone. The only benefit of the bigger battery is an extra 10 mins on the flight time but it does put it the Mini 3 over 250g. The smaller battery still has 34 mins flight time.
You need an Operator ID is for any drone with a camera. If you go over 250g then you will need a flyer ID which consists of passing a free 40 question test on the same CAA website and the Flyer ID lasts 5 years.
Just going through the rules now, and boy are they over complicated or poorly written. Rather than saying, you have to keep 50m from people, 60m if you fly at 60, or 120m from buildings...and then say "oh if you have sub 250g" dont worry... they should have it laid out in an easy to read grid that compares sub 250 and over 250 easily. English isnt everyones first language for a start. Remember, you must never fly over groups, crowds, or any people who are not with you. = WRONG, you can if sub 250g
To clarify. 'VLOS' (visual line of sight) does not mean that you have to be looking up at your drone at ALL times. It means that you must keep it in airspace that is not obstructed by trees, buldings etc so it is visible when you look up at it. Many police get this fundamental rule wrong.
Police MUST have reasonable grounds that a drone flyer is or has committed an offence as stated in ATMUA Act 2021 (Air Traffic Mangement Unmamanned Aircraft Act) Schedule 9. They have no authority to demand your Operator ID if no offence has been committed. The training of police on this issue is seriously below standard and they are at risk of unlawfully detaining someone.
100% correct. most of the police who operate drones do not even know or understand the laws on vlos or distance you can fly.
I Have Bought Potensic Atom Drone Weight 248 Gram Which Is Great Drone Which Has A1 Sub Category Status But It Must Not To Be Flown On Or Over Certain Restricted Areas. I Keep Flying Safe At All Times To Keep My Enjoyable Drone Hobby Working Unhindered
Thanks for sharing
I have passed both the Canadian Basic and the Advanced certification exam as well as the US TRUST exam and the UK Civil Aviation Authority certificate exam. With the exception of more advanced certifications, the rules are more or less the same. The differences can be summarized as follows:
In Canada: Certifications exam cost $5 basic / $10 Advanced but do not expire although the Advanced Cert does require a flight reviewer ($200) initially and some form of re-qualification every two years which can be had free of charge. However, Canada's flying authority (TC) does not care why you fly (recreation or work). However, they do care about what you fly (weight) and where. Exams are overly complicated. Tourists cannot fly any drones in Canada.
In the US: Their basic online certification is free and easily passed. It does not expire and can be written from any country.
The UK: basic certification is free (40 Questions) and can be written from outside the UK. I have. However it does expire every 5 years.
Thanks for Sharing . Old dog preparing before getting a Mav 4 pro. Planning a trip to Ireland and realizing I will have to study two different sets of rules.
Best of luck!
Thanks for this. I was not aware that having a camera on a sub 250g drone still needed registration. An oops moment.
sub 250g drone with camera - 'not a toy' - registration required👍
This keeping 150m distance from people for open A3 is wrong or I'm reading it wrong. In the CAA manual it says keep a distance of 50m away from people and 150m distance from residential and commercial areas for drones greater than less than 25kg
Brillant. Alot of the A2 Cof C vendors are selling their courses saying you need the certification to fly the DJI Air and Mavic 2 to 50m from people. My understanding, like yours, is until 1st January 2026 old regulations apply, so they can be flown 50m from people (A2). This has a very big impact on me as my only local drone flying site is one park allowing drones. Under A3 i cannot fly here even if there are no people greater than 150m.
i mean no people or people over 150 m away :)
I have the DJI Spark and also took the 40 question test and passed. this drone is 300g I have Op Id and Fly id so witth me being new to this hobby could you please point me in the right way to the rules on this particular weight. every thing seems to be based on 249g. any advise would be very much appreciated. thank you
Just bought a second hand Dji fpv drone which is above 250g, I’m in the uk also… I’m trying to find a good video or website to learn what I have to do to be compliant to fly it here in the uk… any help would be appreciated
i did my test yesterday i got 40 out 40 on caa
Just passed mine. 40/40 - it’s not hard at all. It’s just common sense. I’m 65 by the way!
It's not mean to be, it's a box ticking exercise by the CAA as with most authorities 🤨
I don’t think your operator ID changes each year that ID is yours for as long as you fly that drone or drones, other wise you’d be changing your ID stickers each year am I right or wrong
Hi Steve you are correct it has changed. When I renewed in Nov 23 my Operator ID stayed the same the number did not change but the previous renewal in 2022 my Operator ID number did change. I will update the video soon. Thanks for spotting this.
The Operator ID part of the video has been updated to reflect recent changes. Thanks for your input.
Both my operator ID and my Flyer ID Changed when I renewed last night ,
Is the operator registration the same as a drone licence? I can't find info on how to get a drone licence in getting the dji mini 3 but want to put the bigger battery in which will they take it over 250g
Thanks
In effect yes the operator Registration is a number you stick to the drone. The only benefit of the bigger battery is an extra 10 mins on the flight time but it does put it the Mini 3 over 250g. The smaller battery still has 34 mins flight time.
@droneschooluk If it goes over the 250g weight limit do you require another type of licence? Or is the Operator registration sufficient?
Thanks
You need an Operator ID is for any drone with a camera. If you go over 250g then you will need a flyer ID which consists of passing a free 40 question test on the same CAA website and the Flyer ID lasts 5 years.
@droneschooluk thank you for your help much appreciated
Can you send me the pdf document please
Just going through the rules now, and boy are they over complicated or poorly written. Rather than saying, you have to keep 50m from people, 60m if you fly at 60, or 120m from buildings...and then say "oh if you have sub 250g" dont worry... they should have it laid out in an easy to read grid that compares sub 250 and over 250 easily. English isnt everyones first language for a start.
Remember, you must never fly over groups, crowds, or any people who are not with you. = WRONG, you can if sub 250g
Fee has now gone up.
it has gone up to £11.13 CAA put the price up recently
122 meters =400 feet... Seems they can't even get that right 😂