Drones & new airspace users

Enabling safe integration for all in our skies

Safe airspace for all

Drones represent an exciting development in aviation technology and offer new opportunities for emergency services, businesses and individuals across the globe.

However, they also pose an increasing challenge for air traffic control.

At NATS, we want to ensure the UK’s busy skies are safe and accessible for everyone, and we’re working hard to enable the safe integration of drones with manned aircraft to ensure all airspace users can operate safely alongside each other.

We’re developing and adopting new unmanned traffic control technologies aimed at streamlining unmanned flight approvals processes.

We’re also establishing unified air traffic management (UTM) capabilities that will future-proof our systems to provide safe and secure air traffic control services for everyone who wants to fly any type of aircraft in our skies.

Have your say on the future of airspace

NATS envisions a future where different types of aircraft can coexist seamlessly in a single unified airspace. NATS OpenAir is our proposal for achieving that safely, sustainably and securely.

However, we need your input to develop it further. That’s why we will conduct a comprehensive consultation, inviting stakeholders from across the industry to help us refine the NATS OpenAir concept. Register your interest in receiving more information about the consultation here.

To register your interest for our upcoming consultation, please fill out the form below:

  • By completing this form, you are consenting to NATS holding your personal information. For further details on how NATS manages your personal information please see our privacy notice.

Resources

Since November 2019 it has been a legal requirement in the UK for anyone responsible for a drone or unmanned aircraft weighing between 250g and 20kg to register with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and pass an online education package. Further guidance on this is provided in the resources and FAQS below:

Non-Standard Flight applications

Submit your drone flight plans and request permission for access to controlled or restricted airspace

UAS Airspace Restriction Maps

Visit the AIS website for helpful drone-related information including interactive maps highlighting current UAS restriction zones.

NATS training for hobbyists

Our free-to-use interactive learning tool, ideal for hobbyist drone users

CHIRP

Learn more about how this CAA-backed confidential incident reporting programme for industry professionals is contributing to the enhancement of aviation safety in the UK

Report a safety-related drone event

Help improve civil aviation safety by providing relevant information to the regulator. Find out more about Mandatory and Voluntary Occurrence Reporting here

South of the Clouds: A roadmap to the next generation of uncrewed aviation

This BVLOS Operations Forum White Paper details how uncrewed aircraft can be safely integrated into the UK’s skies, and what will be needed to achieve it.

Controlled airspace requirements (Class A,B,C,D,E) do not apply to UAS operating within the Open category, however a number of airspace restrictions exist within the UK and these apply equally to both unmanned and manned aircraft. These areas are referred to as either: Prohibited Areas, Restricted Areas or Danger Areas.

Within the Specific category, an operator may be required to obtain permission to enter controlled airspace within the terms of the authorisation. This is dependent on the type of operation and the mitigations provided within the safety case.

Information about Flight Restriction Zones (FRZs), including interactive maps highlighting all UAS restriction zones, can be found on the AIS website https://nats-uk.ead-it.com/cms-nats/opencms/en/uas-restriction-zones

Any questions related to NSF operations should be sent via the “Contact Us” form on the NSF website https://nsf.nats.aero.

Please allow up to 14 days for your flight authorisation to come through although, if the airspace area in which you wish to fly is especially sensitive, your application process may take longer.

It is a legal requirement to have two IDs in place before flying most drones or model aircraft outdoors in the UK.  These are issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and can be obtained at https://register-drones.caa.co.uk.

If you want to fly your drone inside any aerodrome Flight Restriction Zone, or your preferred flight plan includes flying through any part of an FRZ, you are required by law to seek and obtain air traffic control permission in advance. This can be done by filing an application on https://nsf.nats.aero.

For more information about drone registration visit the drones section on the CAA website.

Yes, the law requires anyone flying or operating a drone in the UK to register as a drone user. You can find out more about the rules on the CAA website.

All drone pilots are responsible for their aircraft at all times and it’s important that everyone flies safely and responsibly.

You can find out more by viewing our free online training course for hobbyist drone operators.

Yes, the law requires anyone using or operating a drone to register as a user, even if the drone they’re flying is owned by someone else. You can find out more about the rules on the CAA website.

Remote pilot qualifications do not discern between flying a drone for leisure or for commercial gain but they do vary depending on the Category of operation.

The competency requirements for remote pilots flying in the Open Category vary depending on the subcategory of drone. Further details of the requirements for flying in the Open Category can be found here: https://www.caa.co.uk/consumers/remotely-piloted-aircraft/drones-flying-in-the-open-category/.

To fly in the Specific Category, the UAS operator is required to hold an Operational Authorisation (OA) which requires their remote pilots to hold a General Visual Line Of Sight Certificate (GVC). Further details of the OA and GVC can be found here:  https://www.caa.co.uk/consumers/remotely-piloted-aircraft/flying-in-the-specific-category/.

If you see a drone being flown illegally, you should immediately report the incident to the police by telephoning 101.

If you are a drone user or otherwise connected with the aviation industry, you can report your concerns via the CHIRP website by clicking on the CHIRP online confidential reporting tab.

If you witness a dangerous or potentially unsafe drone-related incident, you should report the circumstances to the CAA.

You can do this online using its Occurrence Reporting system.

 

Anyone witnessing a dangerous or potentially unsafe airspace event should report the incident to the Civil Aviation Authority and/or to the police by telephoning 101; if you are directly involved in the incident as an aviation professional you should use the Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR) system on the CAA website https://www.caa.co.uk/Our-work/Make-a-report-or-complaint/MOR/Occurrence-reporting/.

If, as an aviation professional, a member of the drone community, or a drone pilot, you are concerned that a drone is being flown irresponsibly, intrusively, dangerously or in a manner that may have an impact on airspace safety, you can report your concerns via the CAA-sponsored CHIRP confidential reporting programme, which is accessible via the CHIRP website https://chirp.co.uk/aviation/.

Where you can and can’t fly is described on the CAA website https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code/where-you-can-fly.

You should stay well away from airports, airfields, spaceports and aircraft.  Most airports, airfields and spaceports have a Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ). You can find details of FRZs and other airspace restrictions that are relevant to drones at https://www.nats.aero/airspace/drones/.

If you want to fly your drone inside any Flight Restriction Zone, or if you plan to fly through any part of an FRZ, you will need to obtain air traffic control permission in advance by submitting a non-standard flight application at https://nsf.nats.aero.

If you see a drone being flown illegally, you should immediately report the incident to the police by telephoning 101.

Visit the CAA website to learn more about reporting the misuse of drones.

Contact

  • By completing this form, you are consenting to NATS holding your personal information. For further details on how NATS manages your personal information please see our privacy notice.

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