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The CAA have taken steps to reassure new drone owners about what they need to do to safely and legally enjoy their new hobby. In anticipation of there being a surge in first time drone owners after Santa has been to visit, the CAA have issued some advice about how to get started with the aim of calming the nerves of first time flyers.  Here's what they recommend... Read the Instructions.  It might sound obvious but even small drones [...]

As well as the popping champagne corks, the explosions of fireworks form the soundtrack to ringing in the new year.  However, if you were watching the skies in some parts of the world as we entered 2020, you might have seen drone swarms taking their place in creating spectacular aerial displays. Take a look at what Shanghai created to welcome in the New Year. China, having given fireworks to the world, are now leading the [...]

Drone flying is an exciting new area in the leisure industry and with new aircraft being introduced all the time, it's very tempting to look to the second hand market to invest in your first UAV. Prices have fallen as drones have become more popular and technology has advanced to a point where really very advanced technology is available in relatively entry level aircraft.  Of course the rapidly advancing pace of change has meant that many drone pilots [...]

Despite a couple of prominent high street stores looking likely to pull out of the consumer drone market - John Lewis have already decided that they won't be selling them any more and Jessops are looking at their future in a more general sense - it's still likely that drones will feature a number of letters to Santa this year. However, it's worthwhile for parents to know that unless they are buying their kids a toy aircraft that weighs [...]

One of the main areas that was designated for change following the CAA's consultation on drone use was the introduction of mandatory competency training and also registration as an operator and or pilot.  UAVs (between 250g and 20kg) will now be required to carry the operator ID. The new website that allows you to take the competency training and obtain your flyer ID and also register your aircraft to get your Operator ID is now live.  At the moment, [...]

The CAA's Drone Registration Scheme has gone live as planned today and all drone operators and pilots are legally obliged to register their aircraft by November 30th. Obviously this scheme, designed to run alongside the mandatory drone training for all pilots who are flying aircraft over 250g, has the main purpose of improving air safety and pilot / operator accountability.   However, it has enabled another really useful service to be launched along with it - Drones Reunited. Working across [...]

Following the disruption to Gatwick Airport in December 2018 by an illegally operated drone and a widely acknowledged public distrust of drone operations, the Police are to receive additional powers and resources to allow them to combat illegal and dangerous drone use. It was announced that a mobile counter drone unit is to be established which will be equipped with the technology to track down and interfere with devices that are reported to be acting illegally or dangerously in [...]