New UK drone regs

[Split-Infinitive]

https://www.caa.co.uk/publication/download/25025

Just published. A few make sense but then a load of duplication and slight difference from the EU rulings for no obvoious reason.

Common theme was "a majority of responders were negative to this proposal but we're going to do it anyway)

Direct Remote ID moving to the far more sinister network remote id (ie unlimited range, permanent surveillance) over time. Also moving from geo-awareness to mandated geo-fencing.

 

[Johnmcl7]

Just published. A few make sense but then a load of duplication and slight difference from the EU rulings for no obvoious reason.

Common theme was "a majority of responders were negative to this proposal but we're going to do it anyway)

That sums it up well and I could understand going against the responders if they were wanting something ridiculous (like no rules whatsoever) but most of the responses seemed sensible particularly in regards to following the EU regulations. It's often not worth companies putting the effort in to license or regulate items just for the UK market so they often don't and I can see the same happening here. I just wonder why waste all the time and effort to get people's views if they're just going to be completely ignored?

If I'm understanding correctly, if I buy a C1 marked Mavic 3 I could fly it in the A1 category until 1st October 2028 at which point unless DJI certify it under the UK1 category it would be pushed down to A3 (or A2 if the license is held)?

I'm confused what the differentiation now is between A2 and A3, it details reducing the horizontal distance from people and buildings to 50m excluding to commercial buildings so is that the only advantage of A2? Or am I misreading the A3 changes?

 

[Felix le Chat]

https://www.caa.co.uk/publication/download/25025

Just published. A few make sense but then a load of duplication and slight difference from the EU rulings for no obvoious reason.

Common theme was "a majority of responders were negative to this proposal but we're going to do it anyway)

Direct Remote ID moving to the far more sinister network remote id (ie unlimited range, permanent surveillance) over time. Also moving from geo-awareness to mandated geo-fencing.

Have yet to read through it fully, but agree that their response proves that they don't care about the opinions of those few of us who can be bothered to wade through their poorly worded, often ambiguous consultation questionnaires.

It also shows what a lazy, complacent bunch we are... the high number of UAV owners versus the pathetically low number of responders... no wonder they think they can get away with shifting goalposts as they see fit.

It is nice to spot that any owner of a "legacy UAV" won't have their drones forced out of use... yet... and it was inevitable that RID would be introduced... I just hope they're bright enough to leverage the RID tech already built in to DJI drones (Aeroscope) which, while definitely Chinese flavoured, is 100% fit for purpose... I also hope that the red-under-the-bed paranoia stays on the other side of the Atlantic.

Also heartening to read that 'Geoawareness' will not be mandatory for legacy drones.