The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a revised Dronecode to help those getting a drone for Christmas to fly safely and responsibly.
The Dronecode, described by the regulator as set of rules and guidelines established in legislation which outline how to fly drones safely and within the law in the UK, is hosted on a new dedicated Dronesafe.uk website. All backed by wide range of leading aviation players, drone retailers and manufacturers and the Department for Transport.
The launch of the new Dronecode, follows an industry-first report into user behaviour, attitudes towards, and responsible use of drones; findings led to the new website and the revised and updated Dronecode.
Findings of the report include:
•The public agree that drones can be used for ‘worthy’ causes:
o61 per cent state that drones would be useful for traffic monitoring and power line inspection
o58 per cent agree that drones would be useful for agriculture
o56 per cent state that drones would be useful for emergency health services
o40 per cent say that drones would be useful for donor organ transport
•62 per cent of drone owners state that ‘fun’ is the main reason for having a drone
•69 per cent of owners thought retailers were responsible for drone safety education at point of sale. 36 per cent were made aware of the Dronecode when buying a drone.
The research, carried out with strategic insight agency Opinium, identified that 91 per cent of the public agreed that adherence to the Dronecode is important. Near four in ten, 39 per cent of drone users had so far heard of it since its launch in 2015.
Drone owners and those looking to purchase one should familiarise themselves with the CAA’s revised Dronecode, rules around safe and responsible use:
•Don’t fly near airports or airfields;
•Remember to stay below 400ft (120m) and at least 150ft (50m) away from buildings and people;
•Observe your drone at all times;
•Never fly near aircraft; and
•Enjoy responsibly.
Tim Johnson, Policy Director at the CAA said, “Consumer research on this scale into drone use has never been done before and there was a real need from the aviation and drone industries to find out more about this growing sector. The research shows that the public have understandable concerns about reported drone misuse to date, and demonstrate clearly why the current education programme is underway, backed by legal action when appropriate.
“Drones have significant potential and the new Dronecode, which forms the basis of establishing a responsible attitude toward drone flight amongst consumers, will help to protect the safety of the wider aviation industry. It will also help those expected to use drones to improve current operations, from farming to traffic, from healthcare to logistics. Ultimately, people must use their drones safely, and responsibly.”
The new Dronecode and the consumer research is available to download at www.dronesafe.uk, a new website created by the CAA and air traffic control body NATS.
