What you need to fly legally in the U.K.

[Pablo56]

I beleive I need to obtain two diffrent licence's. Can someone point me in the direction of how I do this on line as I am a long way from a club.

 

Thanks.

 

[Nigel Heather]

Assume you mean the IDs issued by the CAA to be compliant with the Drone Code.

 

To fly aircraft you need an Flyer ID.  To get one you need to pass a simple test, which you can take as many times as you like until you pass and it lasts 5 years.

 

If you google, you can usually find the latest questions and answers.

 

To own model aircraft you need an Operator ID.  To get one you pay the annual fee, about £12, it lasts one year.

 

Put CAA Drone in a Google search should take you to the right place.

 

So to own and fly a plane you need bother a Flyer ID and an Operator ID.  You have to mark your plane with the Operator ID.

[MattyB]

On 16/08/2024 at 15:17, Pablo56 said:

I beleive I need to obtain two diffrent licence's. Can someone point me in the direction of how I do this on line as I am a long way from a club.

 

Thanks.

 

There is no such thing as a license to fly model aircraft. What you do need to do is get a flyer ID and register as an operator with the CAA. This guidance from the BMFA should help... https://rcc.bmfa.uk/caa-registration/dmares-quick-start-guide. This should also help from the CAA. https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code. 

 

Edited September 4 by MattyB

[MattyB]

Mods, can this topic be pinned to the top of the beginners forum and the title changed to "What you need to fly legally in the UK"? I think that would be helpful. 

[Robin Colbourne]

7 hours ago, Nigel Heather said:

To own model aircraft you need an Operator ID.  To get one you pay the annual fee, about £12, it lasts one year.

Although the CAA are a bit vague on this, it would seem reasonable to assume that the Operator ID is required only for models which are expected to be flown by someone.  If you inherited a model or had one in non-airworthy condition, it would not be reasonable to expect you to pay for an operator ID until that model was ready to be flown.  Also there is no information at what level of completeness the Operator ID is required for the model. 

[leccyflyer]

The clue is in the name - Operator ID. You need it to operate a model aircraft if it weighs more than 250g, or even if it is less than 250g,  if it is fitted with a camera. 

[MattyB]

1 hour ago, leccyflyer said:

The clue is in the name - Operator ID. You need it to operate a model aircraft if it weighs more than 250g, or even if it is less than 250g,  if it is fitted with a camera. 

Quite right Leccy. What Nigel posted above about an operator iID being required to own a model aircraft over 250g or one <250g  with a camera is. totally incorrect and constitutes somewhat  unhelpful guesswork on his part in my view. Nowhere in the law does it say that. You clearly must have an Op ID if operating said aircraft, but it’s not a legal requirement in order to own such a model otherwise the owner would be breaking the law the moment they bought  a model and it came into their possession. The  Drone code is pretty clear on  this in my view. It’s the act of operation that requires the valid id to be acquired and put on the model. 

Edited September 5 by MattyB