What Are The Laws About Drones?
Have you been following the discussions in Parliament about the use of drones in the UK? You could be forgiven for thinking that there’s been a lot of debate about these Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs, as they’re also known.
But it’s not always so easy to keep up with changes in legislation and what they mean exactly. So in this blog from Blue Whale Media, the web design agency Manchester, we’ll explain the new laws in a simple and clear way.
This Is Our Expertise
At our web design agency Manchester we provide clients with drone footage. That means we have the relevant qualification from the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) allowing us to fly a drone safely for commercial purposes. And our drone has a high-resolution camera attached to it, which can provide stunning aerial footage.
So, as a web design agency Manchester, we’re familiar with the new laws and what the government intends to do in the future. But it’s also worth pointing out that this legislation is also aimed at people who are using drones for their own enjoyment.
What Are The New Laws?
Here at our web design agency Manchester we think it’s probably easiest if we explain the laws from the Department of Transport (DfT) in terms of dates. So, from 30 July 2018, you will be banned from…
– flying a drone above 400 feet
– flying within a kilometre of airport boundaries
But what happens if you ignore these new rules? Well, if you’re guilty of endangering an aircraft, or any person in an aircraft, you could face an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison.
From 30 November 2019, if you have a drone that weighs 250g or more, you will be required to…
– register with the Civil Aviation Authority
– take an online safety test
Again, if you fail to do this, you could face a fine of up to £1,000.
What Are The Current Laws?
At our web design agency Manchester we feel it’s important to point out that these new UK laws complement existing ones. So consumer drones, which are those that weigh under 20kg, must be…
– flown no higher than 400 feet (120 metres)
– at least 50 metres away from people and private property
– 150 metres away from congested areas and organised open-air assemblies of more than 1,000 people
– within the pilot’s line of sight at all times
– away from “no fly zones”, such as airports or prisons
Here at Blue Whale Media, the web design agency Manchester, we’re registered with the CAA because we use our drone for commercial purposes. We’re fully trained, because we’ve completed an accredited course, and ready to take to the skies.
But we are aware that we’re not alone. In 2017, the number of active commercial licences increased from 2,500 to 3,800, according to figures from the DfT. That’s a year-on-year growth of 52 percent.
However, we do have a competitive edge over many companies because we’re a comprehensive web design agency Manchester that also offers website design, app creation and SEO, among many services. So we fully understand how drone footage can be most effectively utilised on a new or existing website. Call us today on 03332101218.
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