UK Drone Laws

Once upon a time in the UK, drone laws allowed pilots to fly without registration if their mini drone with camera drone was less than 250 grams. From 31st December 2020, any drone with a camera must be registered with the CAA, even if it weighs less than 250g. Drones under 250g without a camera do not need to be registered.

Drone laws vary in different countries, so it is important to understand the laws in the country that you will be flying. The UK drone laws protect the people and infrastructures of the country. You need two types of licences if you want to fly a drone with a camera in the UK:

Take an online theory test to get your Flyer ID; costing just £9.
Must register for an Operator ID.
Weighing under 250g, DJI Mini 2 drone is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. With the drone laws in the UK, you must register your drone and get the appropriate licence.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulates drones in the United Kingdom. CAA has issued several laws on flying drones for personal and commercial use. However, these laws do not apply if you are flying indoors. Keep on reading for more highlights to help you understand the general rules of the UK drone laws.

Drone Registration
You must register your drone if it has a camera and weighs 250g. You are also required to renew this registration every year. There are two requirements you must fulfil:

Before flying your drone outdoors, you must pass a theory test and acquire a Flyer ID.
You need to apply for an operator ID if you are responsible for the drone.
It is necessary to obtain the required IDs before flying a drone outdoors. Without the essential IDs, you could receive a fine from the authorities; and go to prison in the worst-case scenario.

The theory test for flyer ID is free. Kids under the age of 13 must pass the test, but the parent or guardian must be present. Only 18 years+ can apply for an operator ID. An operator is a person who owns the drone and is responsible for making sure that only flyer ID holders fly their drone. So, if you have a drone and you are younger than 18, you must ask your parent or a guardian to apply for an operator ID on your behalf.

Drone Categories
The new rules posed by the CAA are divided into three categories: open, specific, and certified. See below for more details.

The open category allows you to fly when the flight is low-risk—for example, flying a low-weight drone or operating in the countryside.
The specific category focuses on high-risk drone flights, such as flying over a residential area. In this scenario, you need to acquire permission from the Civil Aviation Authority.
The Certified category is for heavier drones carrying packages and parcels.
Flying Drones in the open category
Governance for the people flying a drone less than 25kg is under the open category. Note that these rules also apply when you are flying at night. General rules for this category are:

Your drone must be in your clear visual line of sight
Never fly above 120m
Be careful of airspace restrictions unless you have secured the correct permissions
Depending on your drone’s weight and size, you will also need to be aware of three sub-categories (A1, A2, and A3).

Most lightweight drones, such as the DJI Mavic Mini 2, will fall under the A1 category because they weigh less than 250g. If your drone is 250g or less, you can fly over people.
If your drone falls under the A2 category, you must pass a theory test to establish that you know the practicalities of flying a drone and do not pose any danger to people around you. You must keep at least 30m of distance from people while flying your drone.
The A3 category requires you to keep at least 150 metres of horizontal distance from public buildings and parks and at least 50 metres away from people.