Use of drones both commercially and for recreational use have increased in recent years and are set to grow in the foreseeable future. It is for this reason regulations regarding drone use have increased and why people must be aware of the rules.

Below is a brief summary of drone use in the UK.

  • The drone must not endanger anyone or anything.
  • The operator must have the drone within his/hers line of sight.
  • Do not fly higher than 400 feet.
  • Camera drones must not be operated within 50 metres of people,structures, and vehicles.
  • Drones cannot be operated within 150 metres of a group of people compromising 1000 or more.
  • Those planning on operating drones for commercial use must obtain approval from the CAA.
  • Permission must also be requested if the drone is to be operated within a congested area.
  • Information regarding restrictions on UK airspace can be found here.
  • Camera drone operators should also be aware of the data protection act if they take pictures of individuals intentionally or not, collection and storage of images fall under this act. For more information, the operator should consult the data protection website

This is just a brief summary,for a more thorough overview, one should consult the UK civil aviation authority.

For those outside the United Kingdom,they should consult their countries regulatory body,for the USA this is the faa. For those living in the EU, the European Aviation Safety Agency should be consulted. For any other country, you should look up the body that governs the airspace within your country and make sure you abide by the rules.