The Open category is likely to be the most interesting to photographers. New drones will also be certified into five classes, C0-C4, according to their weight, speed and design (there are no classified drones yet) and drone operations (flights) will be divided into three categories, Open, Specific and Certified. The requirement to have a flyer ID and register your drone will continue and be extended to include all drones with a camera – including those under 250g. Once the new drone regulations come in, the distinction between commercial and recreational flying will disappear and there will be greater emphasis on risk mitigation. If, however, you capture a stunning image during a flight and someone later offers you money for a print, that was not a commercial flight.Įven in rural areas, it can be hard to find somewhere 150m away from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas, making the A2 CofC qualification attractive to enthusiast pilots The definition of commercial flying is a bit vague but it’s generally understood that if you agree a fee (money or goods) before making the flight, then that is a commercial flight. If you want to fly a drone commercially, you need to hold a Permission for Commercial Flight (PfCO) from the CAA. All drones over 250g need to be labelled with their registration number. It costs £9 to register a drone but getting a flyer ID is free. If, however, you have a drone that is heavier than 250g, for example the DJI Mavic Air 2, you need to register the drone with the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) via and take an online theory test to get a flyer ID. So where does that leave us now? Well, currently if you’re a recreational pilot who flies a drone that weighs less than 250g, the DJI Mavic Mini for example, you don’t have a great deal to worry about. Actually, if the Covid-19 pandemic hadn’t come along, the new laws would have been implemented in the UK on 1 July, but it has been rolled back to 31 December this year. However, growing concerns about safety and privacy mean the laws governing the use of drones are going to change. Thanks to developments in drone technology and lower prices, it’s now feasible for enthusiast photographers to shoot aerial images and video. She’s also our former Technical Editor and in 2018 she founded SheClicks, a community for female photographers. Photographer and journalist Angela Nicholson holds a PfCO and has completed the GVC and A2 CofC training.
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