Hi all. Im not new to drones, as i fly as part of my work. But ive always had mavic minis, so the rules are pretty lax and easy to get your head around. But recently i acquired a Mavic 2 pro (yeah, i know). It was mainly to get the smart controller, as mine got broken. But hey, it was a good price and the drone is nifty.
My q’s are:
trying to get my head around these restrictions, without an A2cofc. I get the 150m horizontal from built up areas and the 50 m above people etc. SO can i take off 150m away from a building, climb to over 50m, and then fly over them? The horizontal bit confuses me, as no mention of a vertical 150m.
I was going to do my a2cofc, but it seems in 5 months time, the legacy mavic 2 pro falls into the over 900grm cat, albeit by 5 grms, and the a2cofc will be useless? Is that the right assumption?
Is there really any point in retaining this drone, considering what’s likely coming in jan 2026?
Just trying to clarify a few points in some murky regs.
Welcome to DroneHub. I will take a stab at your questions:
Have a look at our open category infographic here: fpv.uk/openinfog
This is taken from our handbook (handbook.fpv.uk), which explains it a little more.
The horizontal distance is a horizontal distance. There is no overflight permitted.
This is in contrast to our Article 16 Operational Authorisation - with that you must not fly within 30m (15m on take-off or landing). In that case you can imagine a 30m bubble around the uninvolved person, and you can over fly them (so long as you are 30m above them).
If you are not flying for money, flying under our Article 16 Operational Authorisation sounds like a good way forward for you.
I have tried to get a straight answer out of the CAA on that and failed. They have promised a call this week on another topic, I’ll see if I can crowbar this into the conversation too.
What I can say on A2 CofC; people are still doing them as much as they ever were. (Which suggests to me that they, and the RAEs, know they’re not coming to an end in a matter of months).
Also, our members get 58% off an A2 CofC at Coptrz. Or 50% off at UAV Academy. Or 30% off at UAVHUB.
However, if you’re not being paid to fly, our Article 16 Operational Authorisation sounds like a better fit. Just join FPV UK at FPV UK Membership Centre and then read article16.fpv.uk, tick the box in your account to say you have read and accept it, and go flying!
I would say so. Changes to the open category will have no bearing on our Article 16 Operational Authorisation, which exists in the Specific Category.
Sadly, those info graphics still mess with my head, and im no idiot. I just cant find anywhere that clearly states you can not fly over a building at all. 150m horizontal is not 150 vertical. Or not stated, as far as i can search. Does art 16 allow me to fly over a building at certain height?
So what you are saying, is that regardless of height, and distance on take of, i can not, categorically, fly over built up areas at all with this drone? (unless of course i take the A2 cofc? And then just hope that’s worth something in 5 months time. And likely not with this drone.
Crazy that i can fly over people at 50m, but not a building.
I don’t use this drone commercially, as i work mostly in residential areas. So ill take a butch at art 16, and no doubt confuse myself more. But ideally, i want to be able to fly over residential areas, albeit at height, regardless of the distance they require me to be on take off.. if that makes any sense?
As you can see in http://FPV.uk/openinfog your aircraft would fall under A3 - Fly far from people.
This requires that the aircraft remains at least 150 metres horizontally from a built-up area.
Article 16 does not allow you to fly in a built-up area, except where it is an area used only for recreational purposes (e.g. a park), and you do a risk assessment.
You can’t fly over people at 50m. In A3 you must maintain at least 50m horizontal distance. You can’t overfly people in A3.
The take-off distance doesn’t really make any difference. You must always keep the drone 50m horizontally from uninvolved people, and 150m horizontally from a built-up area.
I’m not intentionally being a dufus here mate. But I still cant see where it clearly states no flight over buildings at all. But ok, im assuming the 150 horizontally is regardless of height. You just need to stay away, right? Although ive not read that anywhere with any clarity.
Cat A3 Separation from uninvolved people
No uninvolved persons to be present within the area of the flight.
No closer than 50m horizontally at any time.
Doesn’t this mean i can overfly them. According to the old cylindrical method of separation. 50m around, 50m above? or again, just stay away?
