{"id":2039,"date":"2020-01-28T10:18:09","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T10:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/?p=2039"},"modified":"2021-12-08T15:59:22","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T15:59:22","slug":"caa-drone-registration-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/caa-drone-registration-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything to Know About Registering Your UK Drone with the CAA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/caa-drone-registration.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to drones, the rules of the game are\nconstantly changing. It can be challenge just to keep up with all the new\ninnovations coming forth from the factories and enthusiasts, and the many\nregulations rolled out to regulate them.&nbsp;\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that\u2019s why we are creating this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regulations change, and this extends to how, which, where, and\nwhy drones are registered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the UK, the aviation authority in charge of regulating the skies and all who use it in one way or another is the Civil Aviation Authority (the CAA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And they have a few rules about registering your drones which we are going to clarify in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is It Mandatory to\nRegister Your Drone with the CAA?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Changes were made to the regulations concerning drone\nregistration in the UK in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the 5<sup>th<\/sup> of November 2019, the CAA launched a\ndifferent set of regulations governing the registration of drone and model\naircrafts and their pilots operating in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And these regulations are designed to be more sweeping and\ncomprehensive than those that were previously in place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the registration laws in place now are not only\naddressed to those who fly drones, but also to those who are responsible for\nthem (even if they don\u2019t necessarily fly the drones).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the UK, drone regulations stipulate that if you own or fly drones and model aircrafts that weigh between 250g and 20kg, you will be required to register the drone. Some manufacturers are being sneaky with this and are releasing some of their <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/review\/best-drone-under-250-grams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">best drones under 250 grams<\/a> in weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The exceptions to this rule by the CAA include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>When the drone will not be flown at all, or will only be flown indoors<\/li><li>When you happen to be a member of the British Model Flying Association, Scottish Aeromodellers\u2019 Association, Large Model Association or FPV UK. The members of these associations are exempted for the reason that their associations register them whenever they renew their membership<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Unless you qualify for the two exemptions listed above, if\nyou have a drone weighing between 250g and 20kg which you intend to fly in UK\nairspace, you are legally required to get it registered before flying it. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drone pilots and owners who fail to comply with the demands\nof this law run the risk of being levied fines of up to \u00a31,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why the Civil\nAviation Authority Wants Drones and Pilots to Get Registered<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The UK has been the scene to some major incidents involving\ndrones. One of the most major happened at Gatwick airport where planes were\ngrounded for several hours after drones were sighted close to the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other incidents involving drones illegally delivering\ncontraband to prisons have left authorities grappling with solutions to the\nmany problems brought up by the drone phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed,\nthere has been a year on year rise in drone-related incidents in the UK. For\nexample, there was a rise from 71 drone related incidents in 2016 to 93 in\n2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, as\nyou can imagine, this is a call for concern to the authorities and the general\npublic at large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, to be sure, the overwhelming majority of drone owners\nand pilots operate their drones responsibly and ethically. But to ensure that\nauthorities can quickly catch up with those unscrupulous exceptions to the rule\nwho flout regulations and restrictions and recklessly put individuals at risk,\nregistration procedures have been put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, the increasing number of commercial drones in the UK\nis an issue to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UK has seen a significant rise in the number of commercial permits issued by the CAA in recent times. For example, in the year 2017, the number of commercial licenses in the UK increased from 2,500 to 3,800 \u2014 an increase of 52%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A report released by PwC highlighted that the uptake of unmanned aerial vehicles could potentially be worth about \u00a341.7m to the UK GDP come 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UAVs are presently being <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/what-drones-are-used-for\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"incorporated into various services across a wide range of industries (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">incorporated into various services across a wide range of industries<\/a> and sectors for their cost-cutting and time saving potential. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Costain has begun making use of drones when carrying out inspections at Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station. This practice saves them 50% of the costs compared to when they use helicopters or human agents for inspection.<\/li><li>Inspection teams investigating wind turbines usually spend around $1,500 for each tower in the process. However, when drones are used to perform the same task, the costs are cut by about 50%.<\/li><li>Network Rail are leveraging drones to boost track maintenance and improve the efficiency of field workers, while reducing the amount of work needed for asset maintaining activities.<\/li><li>The use of UAVs to deliver packages has been shown to potentially be impactful in reducing costs per mile significantly, according to research carried out by Deutsche Bank. The research shows that drone deliveries cost less than $0.05 per mile when delivering a package the size of a shoe box\u2014much less than the delivery cost of $6.50 for premium ground services.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/what-drones-do-the-bbc-use\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"BBC television shows (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">BBC television shows<\/a> like Planet Earth II use drones to change the way we consume and digest entertainment and information. Producers use these devices to film wildlife unnoticed from hundreds of feet in the trees.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As more businesses catch on with the times and jump on the\nUAV train, the CAA will continue to emphasize registration as a way to keep a\nhandle on things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Register a Drone with the CAA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to register your drone with the CAA, there are\nthree main requirements you must go through:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Pass an online exam to obtain a flyer ID, if you intend to fly a model aircraft or a drone<\/li><li>Register for an&nbsp;operator ID<\/li><li>If you are in charge or responsible for a model aircraft or drone, label any of your devices under your care with your operator ID<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There are zero exemptions to this rule. Everyone who\noperates a drone must register. This includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Recreational drone pilots and hobbyists<\/li><li>Members of all the model flying associations<\/li><li>Operators and flyers who have gotten permission\nfrom the CAA<\/li><li>Operators and flyers who have registered for any\nother services<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) <strong>Get a Flyer ID<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you ever hope to fly a drone in the UK, then you must\nsucceed in passing an online theory test on flying legally and safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only exceptions from this required test are those who happen\nto have a valid permit from the CAA, an exemption, or operational authorization\nfor drone operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But even those who are exempt from the test will have to register\nfor their flyer ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The test consists of 20 multiple choice questions, and you\nneed to score at least 16 in order to register a pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All the knowledge you need to pass the test can be found in\nthe Drone and Model Aircraft Code; and you can take the test as many times as\nyou require to pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To improve your chances of passing, there are many drone\nschools operating in the UK to which you can sign up to help you with study\nmaterials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you succeed with the CAA test, you will be issued a\nflyer ID, which will vouch for your competence as a remote pilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no minimum age for obtaining a flyer ID. However,\nindividuals younger than 13 can only register with a parent or guardian\npresent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Registration remains valid for 3 years, and there is no fee\nto be paid for this entire process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2) <strong>Get an Operator\u2019s ID<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to CAA regulations, anyone who is in charge of a\nmodel aircraft or drone has to register as an operator. To be eligible, you\nneed to be 18 years or older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you register for an operator\u2019s ID, you will get issued\nan operator ID along with a certificate of registration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CAA requires that UAV operators display their operator\nIDs on their drones and model aircrafts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, yes, you can use the same operator ID for all the\nunmanned aerial vehicles you are responsible for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Operator IDs are valid for 1 year, and registering for one\ncosts \u00a39.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Much Commercial Drone Licenses Cost<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you intend on getting a drone and registering it in the UK for commercial use, you may be wondering how much money you would have to put down for that purpose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost boils down to the cost of getting a Permission for Commercial Operation, commonly referred to as drone license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The term <em>&#8216;drone license&#8217;<\/em> is actually misleading because the CAA does not issue licenses to drone pilots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is technically no such thing as a drone license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CAA does issue permits to regulate safety, and this is\nwhat the Permission for Commercial Operation (PfCO) is. You will need a this\npermit in order to carry out most drone pilot jobs in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To get a PfCO, you need to first of all train at the\nCAA-certified as a competent remote pilot. And usually this can be done at a\nCAA-recognized drone school which will have its own school fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After that, you need to pay in an application fee of \u00a3253 to the CAA, along with your\napplication for a PfCO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How do Commercial Drone Users Register Their Drone with the CAA?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are a\ncommercial drone pilot who is in possession of a valid PfCO, you will be exempt\nfrom having to go through the online competence test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But you still\nneed to register online for your flyer ID and operator ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make it possible for you to demonstrate your competence whenever required (for example by authorities like the police), the CAA provides formal exemptions to go along with the existing permissions granted by your PfCO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Rules Keep Changing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can expect\nthe rules to keep changing as time goes on as far as drone registration in the\nUK is concerned. As a drone pilot, keeping yourself updated is part of normal procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also keep in mind\nthat you can always get more information on drone registration procedures from\nthe official CAA website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to drones, the rules of the game are constantly changing. It can &#8230; <a title=\"Everything to Know About Registering Your UK Drone with the CAA\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/caa-drone-registration-uk\/\" aria-label=\"More on Everything to Know About Registering Your UK Drone with the CAA\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/caa-drone-registration.jpg",825,457,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/caa-drone-registration-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/caa-drone-registration-300x166.jpg",300,166,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/caa-drone-registration-768x425.jpg",768,425,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/caa-drone-registration.jpg",825,457,false],"img_rate_products_categories":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/caa-drone-registration-552x306.jpg",552,306,true],"img_rate_products_slideshow":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/caa-drone-registration.jpg",825,457,false],"img_rate_products_preview":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/caa-drone-registration-168x93.jpg",168,93,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/caa-drone-registration.jpg",825,457,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/caa-drone-registration.jpg",825,457,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Sam","author_link":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/author\/sam\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"When it comes to drones, the rules of the game are constantly changing. It can ... Read more","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2039"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3046,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039\/revisions\/3046"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}