Commercial drone operators in the UK follow a set of guidelines and regulations established by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in order to conduct their drone operations safely and legally.

Planning criteria:

Training and Qualifications: Commercial drone operators must undergo training and obtain the necessary qualifications to operate drones commercially. This usually involves passing a qualification, which demonstrates the pilot’s knowledge of aviation regulations, safety procedures, and drone operations (GVC/A2CofC).

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Obtaining Permission: Depending on the specific type of operation, operators might need to obtain different levels of permission from the CAA. The two main categories are:

• Open Category Operations: These are operations that pose a lower risk and adhere to certain predefined operational limitations. Commercial operators need to follow the rules outlined in the Open Category and register their drones with the CAA.
• Specific Category Operations: These are operations that involve higher risk or fall outside the predefined limitations of the Open Category. Operators need to apply for specific operational authorizations from the CAA, which may involve providing detailed risk assessments and other supporting documents.

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Operational Risk Assessment: Commercial drone operators are required to conduct thorough risk assessments for each operation. This includes identifying potential hazards, evaluating the associated risks, and implementing appropriate mitigation measures. Some risk assessments can be dynamic, but for operating “near” to people we always fill out a risk assessment.

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Airspace and NOTAMs: Drone operators need to be aware of the airspace they’ll be operating in and any relevant Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs). They must ensure that their planned operations do not interfere with manned aviation activities. We generally use the NotamInfo site to assess NOTAMS.

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Insurance: Commercial drone operators usually need to have appropriate insurance coverage to protect against liabilities arising from their operations.

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Privacy and Data Protection: If our drone operations involve capturing images or video footage of people or private property, we need to be mindful of privacy laws and data protection regulations. We will communicate with all stakeholders to mitigate this.

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Emergency Procedures: Operators should have contingency plans in place for emergencies, such as drone malfunctions or unexpected weather changes.

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Communication with Authorities: Depending on the nature of the operation, operators might need to inform local authorities, landowners, or other relevant stakeholders about their drone activities. This may simply be to secure areas or to set up a temporary barrier while we are “droning”.

All flying operations are undertaken following the Civil Aviation Authority regulations and Drone and Model Aircraft Code.

T-Hathaway Aerial Photograpy

Professional Drone Services across Yorkshire