New UK drone regs

[BossBob]

Well, My Mavic Pro is sat in the cupboard for 99.9% of the year - and these new rules/allowances are going over my head lol.

In simple terms, is there owt I need to do lol?

I have the Operator / Flyer ID things (somewhere lol)

You’ll need RID in 2 years. It’s A3, so flying far from people in open country only with just flier and operator ID. You need A2CoC for any closer.

 

[Felix le Chat]

You’ll need RID in 2 years. It’s A3, so flying far from people in open country only with just flier and operator ID. You need A2CoC for any closer.

...and yet.... in accordance with the 2026 revisions: the original Mavic pro (MTOM: 734 grams) falls into the C1/UK1 weight category. Which means it is a sub-900grm drone and can be flown O/C sub-cat A1 between 2026 and 2028.

This is one of the questions I've requested clarification on. Should be interesting to see what the bureaucrats have to say.

 

[GiT Airways]

...and yet.... in accordance with the 2026 revisions: the original Mavic pro (MTOM: 734 grams) falls into the C1/UK1 weight category. Which means it is a sub-900grm drone and can be flown O/C sub-cat A1 between 2026 and 2028.

This is one of the questions I've requested clarification on. Should be interesting to see what the bureaucrats have to say.

This is how I read it. There's clearly bureaucratic nonsense going on to get people to stop using drones. Might just bin/sell it. Not worth the hassle.

 

[Felix le Chat]

For the purposes of clarification (2026 CAA revisions)
Response directly from: CAA Permissions and Approvals Team.

Part #1: Original e-mail with set questions.

Re: Drone regulation from 01.01.26
For the attention of: Manager - The Permissions and Approvals Team,

I write to you representing the interests of the community of non-professional DJI drone fliers currently registered in the UK.

With the publication of the latest regulation revisions, the wording has caused confusion and argument within the UK drone flying community - many of whom are finding it difficult to interpret certain points with absolute clarity.

This is a community that is eager to maintain their status as legitimate SUAS users and wish to abide by CAA regulation in order to continue to use this technology for good use - so absolute and unarguable clarity concerning ongoing regulation is essential.

The main points of contention are as follows.

Specifically:
Question 1) What is the precise definition of a "...legacy drone...".

Question 2) With the introduction of the UK specific 'class' mark: what happens to drones that currently carry the EU 'class' mark? Do they fall into the category of 'legacy' drones: or can they be used equally and in an ongoing manner in the UK alongside the new UK class mark drones?

Question 3) The revision that details the relaxation of regulation concerning the use of UK1 (C1) class drones - affording these drones (900grms and below) permission for use in the Open Category: A1 sub-category (between 2026 and 2028) - Does this revision apply to currently unmarked drones of an equal MTOM (technically: legacy drones)?

Question 4) After 2028: what happens to 'legacy' class drones? can they still be used if RID enabled through the built-in Aeroscope broadcast system and with the flight app upgraded to include controller positioning data relayed via the mobile phone connection (as per the DJI American RID compliance update)?

Question 5) Is the CAA intending to diverge completely from the EU/EASA regulatory structure: or is the CAA intending to continue to use the EU/EASA framework as the basic model and apply UK specific tweaks to that base structure?

Straightforward clarification of these points will help currently registered owners and operators of DJI SUAS systems continue to operate within the framework of CAA regulation and comply with Aviation Law.

Sincerely,
***** * ******
GBR-OP - ************


Part #2: Official CAA response to set questions.

Dear Mr ******

Thank you for your email.

From 1 January 2026, UAS that do not carry a UK class‑mark (UK0–UK6), nor an EU C‑class mark will be referred to as legacy UA. This includes privately built drones and model aircraft.

Until December 2027, if your drone has an EU C‑class marking, you can operate it under the same rules as the equivalent UK class.

Non-class-marked drones weighing between 250g and 2kg will be treated as legacy drones and can be operated in the Open A2(Near People).

If you hold an A2 CofC qualification, you must keep at least 50m horizontal separation from uninvolved persons. Alternatively, you can fly in Open A3 (Far from People).

Please be advised that the Remote ID requirement is planned to apply in phases - from 2026 for class-marked drones, and from 2028 for legacy and model aircraft.

To be compliant from 2028 you will either need to perform an update to your drone or attach a Remote ID module.
Manufacturers have already rolled out Remote ID compliance updates for EU (EASA) and US (FAA) regions, and the same system will be compatible with the UK Remote ID format once the CAA finalises its rollout.

Some DJI drones built in the last few years already contain the hardware needed for Remote ID and feature can be activated via a firmware update. However, some older drones do not have the correct hardware and will require an external Remote ID module to be attached.

The current Remote ID standards (ASD-STAN prEN 4709-002, which the UK will follow) only require the aircraft or an add-on module to broadcast flight information via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.

Further guidance will be outlined as we progress towards that date by the CAA via our website and SkyWise.

Kind regards

****** ******
SSC Officer
Permissions and Approvals Team
UK Civil Aviation Authority

 

[zocalo]

Further guidance will be outlined as we progress towards that date by the CAA via our website and SkyWise.

In otherwords, "we are making it up as we go along, and have no clear strategy or finalised set of standards yet."

Not that you specifically asked, but there's still no clarity on what happens to drones that only have an EU C-mark past 2028, or whether vendors can get a UK-mark for already shipping (let alone shipped) models of drone. Only the two most important questions anyone in the UK looking to buy a drone imminently might have, since it almost certainly won't have a UK-mark.

The CAA does seem to be reiterating the line that "no C-mark = Legacy from 2028" with this bit though:

Until December 2027, if your drone has an EU C‑class marking, you can operate it under the same rules as the equivalent UK class.

Err on the side caution, I guess. Sorry DJI; I'll be holding on my purchase until this is clarified or you start shipping drones with the UK-mark...

 

[Felix le Chat]

In otherwords, "we are making it up as we go along, and have no clear strategy or finalised set of standards yet."

Not that you specifically asked, but there's still no clarity on what happens to drones that only have an EU C-mark past 2028, or whether vendors can get a UK-mark for already shipping (let alone shipped) models of drone. Only the two most important questions anyone in the UK looking to buy a drone imminently might have, since it almost certainly won't have a UK-mark.

The CAA does seem to be reiterating the line that "no C-mark = Legacy from 2028" with this bit though:



Err on the side caution, I guess. Sorry DJI; I'll be holding on my purchase until this is clarified or you start shipping drones with the UK-mark...

".... Until December 2027, if your drone has an EU C‑class marking, you can operate it under the same rules as the equivalent UK class..."

Pay attention to "...until December...". The inference seems to be that after December 2027 - the rules on EU Class drones will change.

Maybe you'd be better off penning your own, more definitive request for clarification.

 

[zocalo]

Yeah, I don't think we can make any assumptions beyond "will be Legacy" for a drone without a UK specific mark from the end of 2027 - they are definitely putting a line in the sand there, for now at least. Maybe there will some further extension or refinement, maybe there won't, but if you are assuming that the answer is "Legacy from 2028" then you're not going to get caught out - and might even be pleasantly surprised.

I expect there will be more clarity in the next few weeks as people return to work and FAQs get compiled from the numerous queries that have no doubt been submitted, and it certainly won't hurt to add mine to the pile. I've got a little time yet before I need to decide whether to upgrade or not before my trip, but the sooner I have the clarity the sooner I can get the permit application (which needs the model & SN) done.

 

[Johnmcl7]

At the moment the clear intention is that the European class equivalence will no longer apply after 2027 since in the CAA's mind, there will be two years worth of drones all UK marked by that point and all new ones will also be UK marked. I think whether that happens or not will determine if see another U-turn on it.

From what I can see, the A2 category becomes fairly pointless for something like the Mavic 2 Pro which isn't C marked - the new rules reduce the distance to people and buildings to 50m from 150m but with A2, the distance from people is still 50m. I assume the only benefit is to reduce the distance to commercial properties from 150m to 50m.