Drone Registration

Do I need UK drone registration?

Yes, you will need to register. Visit the CAA’s DMARES website. If you have already registered and have an Operator ID, ensure this is attached to your Phantom 4 Pro V2.

Where Can I Fly?

Without taking a drone training course, you will have to fly by the rules of the Open Category’s A3 subcategory (fly far from people). This says:

• No uninvolved people present within the area of flight;
• No flight within 150m horizontally of residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational areas.

Want more freedom? Take a drone training course.

Training Options

A2 CofC

An A2 CofC allows operations in the A2 subcategory (fly near to people) of the Open Category. This permits flights up to 50m horizontally from uninvolved people. This is allowed during the Transitional Period, which runs in the UK until December 31, 2022.

GVC

For operations which pose a greater risk than the Open Category or fall outside the Open Category parameters, a GVC is required to apply for an Operational Authorisation to fly in the Specific Category.

How Do I Get an A2 CofC or GVC?

Complete an A2 CofC or GVC with Heliguy - a UK CAA-approved Recognised Assessment Entity - through our online training portal.

The A2 CofC involves a syllabus, followed by a multiple choice examination (sat remotely with Heliguy) and a period of practical flight training.

The GVC involves a syllabus, followed by a multiple-choice examination (sat remotely with Heliguy). Candidates are also required to produce an Operations Manual, and will undergo a practical flight assessment with a flight examiner.

Can I Fly Commercially With An A2 CofC or GVC?

Yes. Having an A2 CofC allows you to operate commercially. But the A2 CofC is not specifically a commercial permission; it is a competency which permits flights in the A2 subcategory, regardless of recreational or commercial flying.

You can fly commercially in the Open Category without an A2 CofC, but your operations will be restricted to the conditions of the A3 subcategory.

The GVC allows you to apply for an Operational Authorisation, which has replaced the Permission for Commercial Operation (PfCO), to fly in the Specific Category - geared towards enterprise drone pilots and for operations outside the remit of the Open Category.

Permission For Flight Association Members

Members of Flight Associations can fly under an Article 16 authorisation, which enables flights up to 30m of uninvolved people and 30m horizontal distance from an assembly of people in certain locations - without having to do an A2 CofC or GVC. Article 16 cannot be used for commercial reasons, though.

What Happens If I Had A Valid PfCO?

Holders of a Standard Permission valid beyond December 31, 2020, will have their permissions brought into line with the new Operational Authorisation (which has replaced the PfCO) to enable operations in the Specific Category. On renewal, this permission will become an Operational Authorisation. This means that you will not need to sit a GVC course yet, but will be required to complete a PfCO to GVC conversion course before January 1, 2024.

From January 2023 (End of Transitional Period)

The rules will change for DJI aircraft in their current form. Updated information released nearer the time.