Regulatory Matters

<p>Representatives from the UK Model Flying Associations met with the Aviation Minister, Baroness Vere of Norbiton at the Department for Transport yesterday (Tuesday 5th June 2019).</p> <p>Whilst the meeting provided a good opportunity for both sides to clarify their position and understand each other’s priorities, there is little in the way of good news to … Read More

<p>The <strong><a href="http://www.parliament.uk/science">Science and Technology Committee</a></strong> holds its first evidence session on its <em>Commercial and recreational drone use in the UK</em> inquiry.</p> <p> </p> <p>Watch it online at <strong><a href="http://parliamentlive.tv/Commons">Parliament TV</a></strong>.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Witnesses:</strong></p> <p><strong>At 9.45 am</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Tim Johnson, Policy Director, Civil Aviation Authority</strong></li> <li><strong>Richard Parker, Chief Executive Officer, Altitude Angel</strong></li> <li><strong>Anne-Lise Scaillierez, Director, Association of Remotely Piloted … Read More

<p>The latest meeting between the Department for Transport (DfT), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and representatives from the UK Model Flying Associations took place this afternoon (Friday 15th June) at the DfT offices in London.<br /><br />The most urgent matter to address was the recent change to the Air Navigation Order (ANO) which introduced (in Article 94A) a … Read More

<p>The recent 2018 amendments to the Air Navigation Order will come into effect on the 30th July, making it illegal to operate any unmanned aircraft (including model aircraft) above 400ft.<br /> <br /> The UK model flying associations (BMFA, SAA, LMA &amp; FPVUK) have been working in close collaboration in ongoing negotiations with the Department for … Read More

<p>The Government has today published their consultation ‘Taking Flight: The Future of Drones in the UK’. The measures in the consultation are part of the Governments wider drones programme and strategy, and will help shape the content of a draft Drones Bill which will be published later this year, as well as other future measures. </p> … Read More

<p>The latest drafts of the EASA regulations for unmanned aircraft were published recently by the European Commission and contain a significant and positive development for model flyers.  DG MOVE (the European Transport Commission) submitted a proposal to remove model flying conducted within Associations/Clubs from the EASA regulations and this seems to have gained acceptance.</p> <p>The … Read More

<p>The Department for Transport has published the Government’s response to the public consultation on the Future of Drones in the UK.  There were 5061 responses to the consultation with 1947 respondents identifying themselves as ‘model flyers’ and 2310 identifying themselves as ‘using drones for leisure’.</p> <p>Several members have suggested that the publication is a knee … Read More

<p><a name="_Hlk1646043"></a><strong>DfT publishes amendments to the Air Navigation Order.</strong></p> <p>The Department for Transport (DfT) yesterday published further amendments to the Air Navigation Order which impact on all users of Small Unmanned Aircraft, including the model flying community.  <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-drone-safety-partnership-with-business-launched-as-government-sets-out-plans-to-limit-drone-misuse">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-drone-safety-partnership-with-business-launched-as-government-sets-out-plans-to-limit-drone-misuse</a></p> <p>Further details of the amendments can be found in CAP1763 (as the CAA have the unenviable … Read More

<p>All Party Parliamentary Group has supported the BMFA, announcing that the new set of regulations intended to tighten rules on drone operators is in danger of having a disproportionately negative effect on the model flying community.</p> <p> </p> <p>See the link below for the press release from the APPG</p> <p><a href="http://www.generalaviationappg.uk/new-drones-law-punishes-british-model-flying-community/" target="_blank">http://www.generalaviationappg.uk/new-drones-law-punishes-british-model-flying-community/</a></p> <p> </p>

<p>The CAA have today issued an exemption to permit control line model aircraft flight within the Flight Restriction Zones that come in to force on 13th March 2019 without seeking permission from the ATC unit or aerodrome operator.</p> <p>The exemption is available to download from the link below.</p> <p><a href="http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/1296.pdf" target="_blank">http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/1296.pdf</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Another example of … Read More