What do the new drone regulations mean to you?

From the 30th November 2019, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)’s Drone and Model Aircraft Registration and Education Service comes into being and it becomes law for all drone operators to be registered with the CAA. Unregistered owners will face a fine. The new regulations apply to any drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such as model aircraft, that are used outside and have a weight of 250g – 20kg. The new system has two parts. Anyone responsible for a drone or UAV between these two weights will need to register as an operator and pay a renewable annual fee. Registration will give you an operator ID as well as a certificate of registration. Anyone flying a drone or UAV will be obliged to take and pass an online test which is free and renewable every three years. The pass mark for the multiple choice test is currently set at 16 correct answers out of 20 and will give you a flyer ID – the CAA’s acknowledgement of your competency as a remote pilot. This means that from November 30th, ANYONE buying a drone or UAV, be it from a supermarket or a reputable department store will be required to pass the test. However, the new legislation WILL NOT qualify a drone operator for commercial work! The use of drones is strictly regulated and although drone pilots are not ‘licensed’ by the CAA, they are required to have the CAA’s permission to carry out commercial projects. This permission takes the form of a Permission for Commercial Operations certificate (PfCO).The PfCO must be obtained BEFORE any form of commercial or paid work can be undertaken. There are three steps involved to obtain a PfCO: · Complete a training course (including ground-based theoretical training as well as a flight assessment) with a recognised NQE (National Qualified Entity). · Obtain suitable third-party insurance to cover your drone operations. · Write an in-depth Operations Manual detailing the platforms you intend to fly, your operational procedures, platform maintenance procedures, and methods for assessing and reducing the risk in your operations (including providing a sample Risk Assessment). Once evidence of the above has been submitted to the CAA, with an application fee, the PfCO will be issued shortly afterwards. At TJS, we are fully licensed by the CAA, with a Permission for Commercial Operations certificate, and we are one of very few approved drone operators in Lincolnshire. Our drone pilots are fully insured, qualified and fulfil all the legal requirements necessary for commercial flight. If you are looking to showcase your property portfolio, publicise a local venue or event, or survey your land for insurance purposes, you can be confident in TJS’s expertise and knowledge. Working within the strict guidelines and regulations of the Civil Aviation Authority, safety is paramount. We conduct stringent risk assessments to protect the safety of our clients and the public. By using industry-leading aerial image platform DJI, we can provide the highest specification image quality to our customers. To discuss your aerial photography requirements or to see how we can help your business, give us a call today on 01507 525500.