13/07/2023
Are you allowed to fly your drone in a city close to buildings?? 📜🏢
This is a common question I get asked by clients and having flown drones NOT as a hobby but for COMMERICAL purposes over the past 7 years these are the facts and might be useful for those thinking of capturing some images or videography of their real estate assets.
Please note the rules are constantly changing so it is always important to check with the CAA if you do fancy sending a drone into the sky.
The rules for flying close to buildings vary based on your license type. If you hold a General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC) like I do, then I have more flexibility compared to recreational drone pilots.
✅ As a GVC holder, I can fly closer to buildings and structures, but it is important to maintain a safe distance and exercise caution. 📏🚫🏢 The specific distance requirements may vary depending on building size and nature, therefore I conduct a thorough risk assessment before every flight which I deem risky.
🔍 Conducting a Risk Assessment: Before flying close to a building, I ensure that I perform a comprehensive risk assessment to identify any potential hazards or risks. I consider factors like building size, type, presence of people or other aircraft, and any potential obstacles. ⚠️📝
📝 Obtaining Permission: If I plan to fly close to a privately-owned building or within controlled airspace, it is important that I seek permission from the landowner or relevant authorities. In some cases, coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or air traffic control is sometimes necessary for flights within restricted airspace.
📜✅ The GVC Permissions allow operators to fly drones weighing under 25 kg up to a distance of 50m from uninvolved persons. This includes use in congested areas, provided the 50m separation from uninvolved persons is always maintained.
✈️🏙️ To put it simply my Operational Authorisation enables me to fly my drone, which is allowed to weigh up to 25 kg in congested areas.
