Flying a drone in the United Kingdom: the regulations guide

1 · The open category

The United Kingdom no longer applies the European regulation: it has retained Regulations 2019/947 and 2019/945 in British law, supplemented by the Air Navigation Order 2016 and the Drone and Model Aircraft Code of the CAA. The general framework remains close to the European framework: open category, direct line of sight, no more than 120 m from the closest point of the surface of the Earth.

• ▸UK0 to UK6 classes: every new model placed on the market since 1 January 2026 carries a UK class. An EU class C drone is flown like its UK equivalent until 31 December 2027. UK0: under 250 g; UK1: under 900 g; UK2: under 4 kg; UK3 to UK6: under 25 kg.
• ▸A1: UK0, UK1, C0 or under 250 g. Overflight of uninvolved people is allowed, never of crowds. A2: UK2 with an A2 certificate; 30 m from uninvolved people, 5 m in low-speed mode. A3: 50 m from uninvolved people and 150 m from residential, recreational, commercial or industrial areas.
• ▸Age: the Flyer ID test has no age limit (a child under 13 takes the test with a parent or guardian); the Operator ID requires 18 years.

2 · Zones: flight restriction zones and the NATS map

The United Kingdom has no map of its own from the CAA: the restrictions of the UK AIP (section ENR 5.1) are published by NATS AIS, as a map and a downloadable dataset, updated at each 28-day AIRAC cycle. The map shows only permanent restrictions; temporary restrictions go through NOTAMs or AIP supplements, and the other zones (prisons, events, natural sites, local orders) do not all appear on the maps.

• ▸Flight restriction zones (FRZ) around aerodromes (ANO, art. 94A): the remote pilot does not fly without the permission of air traffic control, the flight information service or the aerodrome operator.
• ▸Runway protection zones (art. 94B): a rectangle 5 km long by 1 km wide (1.5 km at Heathrow), from the surface to 2,000 ft, at each runway threshold.
• ▸Protected spaceport sites (art. 94BA): a circle of 5 km radius, from the surface to 2,000 ft.

⚠️ Glydar’s map does not display the United Kingdom’s regulations: the NATS AIS UAS restrictions map prevails, to be checked before every flight — see coverage, country by country.

3 · Registration, exam and insurance

• ▸Flyer ID: required to fly a drone of 100 g or more. It is obtained by passing the online theory test; it is free and valid for 5 years, renewed by retaking the test.
• ▸Operator ID: required of anyone who owns a drone of 250 g or more, or of 100 g or more with a camera. £12.34, valid for 1 year. It is displayed in capitals more than 3 mm high, visible from the outside of the drone. Without a camera, the Operator ID is optional between 100 and 250 g.
• ▸Remote ID: UK1, UK2 and UK3 drones are fitted with a Remote ID function; since 1 January 2026, the operator enters their identifier in it and activates it before flying.
• ▸Insurance: optional for a drone under 20 kg used for pleasure, recreation, sport or as a pastime; compulsory (third-party liability) for any other use, and always from 20 kg.

4 · FPV and night flying

FPV: the remote pilot must be accompanied by an observer who stands next to them and with whom they can talk at any time; the observer does not need a Flyer ID. Direct line of sight excludes binoculars, telephoto lenses and screens (phone, tablet, video goggles).

At night: since 1 January 2026, an open-category drone flying at night carries a flashing green light switched on.

5 · Before every flight

• ▸Check the NATS AIS restrictions: aerodrome FRZs, runway protection zones, spaceport sites.
• ▸Flyer ID from 100 g, Operator ID from 250 g (or 100 g with a camera), Remote ID activated for UK1 to UK3 classes.
• ▸FPV: an observer next to the pilot. Night: the flashing green light. Height: 120 m.

This guide simplifies — it replaces neither the official texts nor an up-to-date check. In case of doubt: the UK CAA.

6 · Penalties: what the law says

The offences come from the Air Navigation Order 2016 and, since 1 January 2026, from Regulation SI 2025/1284 (“Unmanned Aircraft (Offences and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025”), which applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Here is what the texts provide:

• ▸Endangering an aircraft (ANO, art. 240): a fine or up to 5 years in prison, or both, on indictment.
• ▸Endangering persons or property (art. 241): a fine or up to 2 years in prison, or both, on indictment.
• ▸Flying in a flight restriction zone without permission (art. 94A, 94BA): a level 4 fine, that is £2,500 in England and Wales.
• ▸Operating a drone outside the rules of the open, specific or certified category (SI 2025/1284, art. 2 and 5): a fine, with no cap in England and Wales, of level 5 at most in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• ▸Operator failings (registration, displayed number, remote pilot competence): a level 3 fine (£1,000 in England and Wales); not carrying proof of competence: level 2.

These are maximums: the court exercises discretion. The amounts in pounds for the levels are those of the Sentencing Act 2020 for England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own scales. The text of the law prevails, not this page.

7 · Your responsibility, and what Glydar does

Glydar informs; it exempts from nothing. This guide draws on official sources but is not an official source, does not guarantee their completeness or that they are up to date, and does not amount to a flight authorisation.

The remote pilot remains solely responsible for the flight and for compliance, as the terms of use recall. Everything needed to check is within reach: coverage, country by country, the official map and the texts cited below.