Drone law in the UK is making it nearly impossible for many children who have been gifted an unmanned aerial vehicle to actually fly it without risking a criminal record.
The Drone Code, produced by the Civil Aviation Authority to assist drone users in flying safely, states that failure to fly it responsibly could result in a criminal prosecution – and even prison.
You MUST:
- Always keep your drone in sight
- Stay below 400ft (120m) to comply with the dronecode
- Every time you fly your drone you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- Keep the right distance from people and property (150ft (50m) from people and properties and 500ft (150m) near crowds and built up areas
- Stay well away from aircraft, airports and airfields – if your drone endangers the safety of an aircraft
it is a criminal offence and you could go to prison for five years
So, where can you go to fly a drone legally?
Try looking for large areas of open ground such as parks, fields and conservation land.
School fields and sports grounds are a good shout – if you have permission to access them. Remember to check with the landowner that it is okay to use them on their site.
Find out more on the Drone Safe website here.
