Here's a link to the UK dronecode. http://dronesafe.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Dronecode.pdf Follow that and you should be OK.I am planning a trip to GB within next few months. As I'm going to take the drone, I would like to know if in the UK something differs from other countries in EU?
I would like to film some interesting castles, gardens and cliffs.
Thanks!
Your biggest threat is the Rain, It is a constant threat and highly recommend you get the Phantomrain Wet Suit for your travels , phantomrain.orgI am planning a trip to GB within next few months. As I'm going to take the drone, I would like to know if in the UK something differs from other countries in EU?
I would like to film some interesting castles, gardens and cliffs.
Thanks!
They are actually by-law’s however having read the spiel they perhaps should be bye laws (as in good bye). Don’t they seem like a stuffy mob! We have similar restrictions in Australia, I have even been asked to refrain from taking photo’s with an SLR in public places around Sydney harbour unless I could demonstrated I have paid for a permit.Here's a link to the UK dronecode. http://dronesafe.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Dronecode.pdf Follow that and you should be OK.
Be aware though that many seemingly 'public' places such as beaches may have local laws (called bye-laws) which may prohibit flying completely. The same applies to many buildings such as castles which are of national historical interest. Many of these are owned by an organisation called the National Trust. Here's a link to their rules. Flying drones at our places
You may be able to find additional information about flying in the UK by using the search engine here (magnifying glass, top right) with keywords such as 'UK rules regulations' etc etc...
Here's some more information about No Fly Zones (NFZs) AirMap Web App
Both spellings are acceptable, but in the country from which English originated the spelling is as I wrote 'bye-laws'. But yes, thanks for pointing out that I foolishly forgot my apostrophied plural..They are actually by-law’s however having read the spiel they perhaps should be bye laws (as in good bye). Don’t they seem like a stuffy mob! We have similar restrictions in Australia, I have even been asked to refrain from taking photo’s with an SLR in public places around Sydney harbour unless I could demonstrated I have paid for a permit.
Byelaw is an alternative spelling of Bylaw (original English) and from Scandinavian origin (as you might know the Scandinavian’s and speakers of Germanic languages were the greatest influencers of early English).Both spellings are acceptable, but in the country from which English originated the spelling is as I wrote 'bye-laws'. But yes, thanks for pointing out that I foolishly forgot my apostrophied plural..
Doesn't really matter what they are called or how they are spelled/spelt - but in the UK they have local 'rools' and they also have lots of local jobsworth employees who try to apply them in order to cause problems for people. @Andy9 - please just be aware....
There are plenty of people in the UK who have strong negative views about drones. There are also plenty of rigid officials who will enforce the law if you're breaking it - sometimes to such a ridiculous degree that you wonder if they've ever heard of "common sense". (It's easier for officials to "get a result" with members of the public who are technically breaking the law, rather than going after professional criminals who know how to resist prosecution.) To any visitor coming to the UK I would urge caution. We are nowadays a country often hell-bent on sticking to the letter of the law, although not the worst in the world.
Here in central London its a bit risky. I flew around Greenwich across the Thames and it was class D I think (this was in July last year) but obviously flying near the London eye, buckingham palace, etc... Big no no. Unfortunately even a massive open park like Hyde park, my mate got a warning for flying the mavic ( and this place is huge) depending where abouts in England you head you can get some great places. Launching of white cliffs of dover is great and no problems. But flying near the ferries at dover got me a telling off. As far as I know your pretty safe on an open public field
The National Trust is relying on fear and kidology to try and sustain their unlawful policy which amounts to a blanket ban on aerial activity over their land, recited here as 'All aerial activity above our sites is prohibited unless specific permission is granted, according to an existing byelaw.', and here as 'The use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or drones as they are more commonly known, is not permitted on or over National Trust land as part of our byelaws.'As someone else has said. The National Trust and English heritage have strict 'no drone' policies. Take off and landing restrictions really can't be argued with as they own/manage the land so if they say 'no' then sadly it is no. They make a dubious claim to the airspace as well. This is harder for them to justify but they will often claim it's to protect the habitat of rare birds/species etc and it's probably enforceable in law.
All very good and valid advice - but let's not forget the OP will be a tourist visitor to the UK and not a 'local' and, I am sure, the last thing that he would wish to get involved in during his holiday would be any kind of verbal conflict nor, (Heaven forbid!) any sort of legal case.The National Trust is relying on fear and kidology to try and sustain their unlawful policy which amounts to a blanket ban on aerial activity over their land, recited here as 'All aerial activity above our sites is prohibited unless specific permission is granted, according to an existing byelaw.', and here as 'The use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or drones as they are more commonly known, is not permitted on or over National Trust land as part of our byelaws.'
The National trust's byelaws are here. The only byelaws which might be relevant are these:
I would say that if it came to a real fight and you are (1) taking off from land which is not owned by the National Trust, and (2) complying with both the ANO and the CAA code, and (3) not causing direct harm to wildlife they haven't got a leg to stand on because compliance with those rules is going to make it very hard to prove (and they do have to prove) that you are infringing byelaws 11(b) and 24. And even if they succeed the penalty is £20! And you only have to pay that if they prosecute and achieve a summary conviction. See byelaw 26.
- 9(a) which prohibits molesting and disturbing living creatures
- 11(a)(iii) which prohibits riding or driving 'any conveyance over or upon Trust Property otherwise than upon roads, tracks and waterways authorised for the use of such conveyance.' - the wording makes it clear that the draftsman contemplated "conveyances" being grounded, not in the air, notwithstanding the note which states: “conveyance” includes any air.... vehicle'. In other words the idea was to prevent aircraft from taking off or landing on Trust property, not over-flying (which I deal with below)
- 11(b) - 'No person shall ride or drive any conveyance to the danger or annoyance of or without due consideration for other persons resorting to Trust Property' - there would have to be real (not imagined) danger or annoyance for an action under this byelaw to succeed
- 17 prohibits photography for hire or reward, but so does the ANO for unqualified pilots
- 24. No person shall on Trust Property wilfully obstruct, disturb, interrupt or annoy any other person in the proper use and enjoyment of such property - see my comment on 11(b) above
I really do not see how the National Trust byelaws could possibly overcome the principals which I described in a previous post where I said:-
Owners of properties which are not excluded by the ANO cannot prevent you over-flying their properties provided you are at a reasonable height and you do not make such frequent over-flights that you could be guilty of harassment. Here are some excerpts from a legal briefing note prepared by the Country Land and Business Association Limited: 'However, for non-commercial drone pilots that do not respond to a polite request the answer for now seems to be that aside from a potentially costly action for an infringement of your privacy or trying to convince the police that the flights amount to a criminal harassment there is little you can do to prevent them.... Section s76(1) Civil Aviation Act 1982 prevents claims being brought in trespass or nuisance against aircraft, provided they are flying at a reasonable height and comply with the Air Navigation Order.... Landowners in England and Wales are not entitled to all the airspace above their land, the position is well summed up by Griffiths J in Bernstein of Leigh v Skyviews & General Limited [1978] 1QB 479.'
I have printed several copies of the CLA briefing note and I carry them with me ready to hand out if anyone accosts me. I would have no hesitation in using this defence against a charge that I had over-flown National Trust land. You can download it here: https://www.cla.org.uk/sites/default/files/GN10-17 Drones and Private Property 2017.pdf
Of course if you are taking off from National Trust land then, yes, they can tell you not to. But if you pack up and go home I really don't see what practical remedy they would have. My advice would be to record any confrontation on your phone, and tell the person who is confronting you that this is what you are doing as evidence for your defence.