You can use the Article 16 Operational Authorisation anywhere, except a built-up area. (And, in certain built-up areas too, with a risk assesment).
I’ve had people email me in the past because you have told them that the A16 OA can only be used in a ‘recreational area’ (There is no such thing. It can be used anywhere, except a built-up area).
Again, this is not true. Please stop saying ‘recreational area’. There is no such thing in the A16 OA or other relevant legislation.
The correct term is ‘suitable area’.
They are proposing that drones will all require Remote ID.
They are further proposing that where a person is a member of an associaiton, and operating under the association’s A16 OA, and the aircraft meets certain criteria, and the location is an approved location, they can be exempt from the Remote ID requirement.
What the criteria for the approved location, and who approves it, and what the criteria for the aircraft are, are yet to be defined. We are obviously pushing for any location (except near nuclear sites, prisons and airports), and any kind of radio controlled aircraft.
I thought it was the same thing so you can use article 16 anywhere. I don’t get why any one would use article 16 anywhere else. I would use the A3 category far from people and buildings and the under 250g rules which is less restrictive than article 16. Can I have an example where you can use it that’s not a recreational area then. I know about being able to use anywhere but not in a built up area without the risk assessment but where would you use it apart from recreational areas. I have only found it useful in recreational areas. I don’t get the use case outside of a recreational area. Do you have an example as I am obviously not getting this somehow or like I believe have not found it useful anywhere else because I would use the A3 category and the under 250g rules instead. I hope I am not being a pain as I need to get this.
You have again said ‘recreational area’ four times in your post.
As I have said multiple times, there is no such thing as ‘a recreational area’ in the A16 OA or any other relevant document / legislation.
A3 is an option, but unlike the A3 subcategory which requires 50m horizontal separation, the A16 OA allows flying within 30m of uninvolved people (15m on take off and landing). This is like a bubble, you can fly over them. (Unlike A3 which is a horizontal distance).
Examples off the top of my head (at 1am!):
Flying a drone from agricultural land (e.g. a farmers field).
Flying a drone from a racecourse, on a non-race day.
Flying a drone from a cricket pitch, on a non-match day.
Flying a drone from a football pitch, on a non-match day.
Flying a drone from a flood plain (council owned land, reserved for a river to overflow on to when required).
Flying a drone from a deserted car park.
Flying a drone from the top of a mountain (most likely agricultural land, as above - or possibly a national park. Certainly not ‘a built-up area’).
Flying a drone from a valley / river bank. (Possibly agricultural land, as above - or possibly a national park. Certainly not ‘a built-up area’).
Flying a drone in a forest.
Flying a drone from a private airfield (with permission of course).
Flying a drone from a derelict industrial site.
Fying a model aeroplane above 400ft from a farmers field.
These are just some possibilities. The wording is ‘a suitable area’ and that is defined as ‘anywhere except a built-up area’. So it’s really anywhere you can think of!
Lol I know I was shorting it to make it easier as it says " Under the authorisation flight is allowed in ‘an area used only for recreational purposes’ – such as a park)." Come on Simon all the places you have mentioned are recreational areas. For example. Cricket pitch, racecourse, football match, are sports and by that definition a recreational area. Next we have flooded plain, deserted car park, river bed, forest and valleys all which can be used by dog walkers so I have always called these recreational areas as well. So the only one I can see is agricultural land which I would used the A3 regulations not article 16. There is no separation distance in the A3 category apart from the cap722 they are on about changing that in the regulations so I wouldn’t use article 16 for this anyway and no I only just found out about the A3 minimum distance when the consultation came out so have not been flying to this before more is read into this. I know it doesn’t say recreational areas in article 16 but I guess it’s what we call recreational areas is different because all the areas you have mentioned are recreational areas to me or designated areas of recreation by me. Nope I do not understand what I’m doing wrong. I can’t believe you have given me examples of recreational areas to make your point I’m even more confused now. This picture below is where it say about the A3 and minimum distances from people.
Would it not have been better if I explained what I was meaning by saying an recreational area because it sound like you think I was limiting article 16 to parks only by saying “recreation areas” which I was most definitely not saying that. I have never said "recreational area’ is in article 16 at least not knowingly it has always been my interpretation. Remember my spelling is not good and I speak to my phone a lot and it spells for me. I have tried to explain this before. I call the areas we can fly in a “recreational areas” it my term and as far as I’m concerned means the same thing. How was I supposed to know that other people have a different interpretation of what I was meaning. I did not know me saying this was putting article 16 into a smaller box and I am shocked me saying this has been take so badly. I have used article 16 in all the places you have mentioned and am aware of all the places that article 16 can be used. So I guess that everyone that has a different opinion of what a “recreational area” is will have a problem with what I’m saying. I’m adding “” so you know it me talking and not coming from the rule book or from any authorisation. We have done this before and I tried to explain I know where to use article 16 before but here we are again. It’s got to be me and I can only apologise but I’m not sure for what. For other not agreeing with my term “recreational areas” even though I believe it’s the same thing especially now you have explained what you mean. I used to play on farmers fields and run around the PDSA building, lakes, river, train tracks, Salisbury plains and even outside Boscombe Down airbase was an recreational area to me. It’s what I have called these places longer than you have been alive. Admittedly Boscombe airbase is a bad example For obvious reasons and hopefully I don’t have to explain but I better say just incase it is taken the wrong way
I could say anything and someone else can interpret it wrongly. Is that my fault if I’m not aware and they have not asked for clarification. I though all the places you have lists come under what I call a “recreational area” and I did not consider anybody else thinking differently. I thought I was messing up and flying in the wrong areas or advising others to fly in illegal places. I was worried I had messed up.
And just to prove this here are examples of what I call “recreational areas” which is my term and not in any book just to be very clear. Theme parks, school fields, an abandoned golf course as their is one near me. The car park up the road I have already flown there and this was a commercial area during the day and after 8 is closed. RC car go up there as well as scooter. Country parks if no bylaw exists and with permission. I’ve flown at longham lakes and I have used article 16 tight up to the side of a nature reserve but not in I was in a industrial estate next door. lots of parks and the beach and rivers. I used article 16 in an abandoned experimental medical research center as it was covered in graffiti and again where the dog walkers go. In fact it’s dog walker that I find unlocks more areas than any other pass time. All these areas I call “recreational areas” I thought everyone else called these “recreational” what a big fuss over nothing and people actually complain to you about this. I thought I was doing something wrong and this has given me sleepless nights. I am 50 and being educated on what an recreational area which would be cool if I did not know. You are basically asked me to stop calling places I have call recreational areas for most my life and longer then you have been alive because it not in article 16. Don’t think that’s going to happen over night is it even if I want to. I will elaborate more but I am not going to change my views on what is a “recreational area” especially now you have mentioned all these place which I included in what I call a “recreational area”. Now do you want to ask me anything I hope we do not have to do this again.
Your confusion is because you’re trying to define a recreational area.
But I am not. There is no such thing as a recreational area in the operational authorisation.
The area you’re talking about is ‘a built-up area’ (which happens to be used mostly for recreational purposes).
The areas I mentioned are in no way built-up areas.
A3 does effectively have a 50m horizontal minimum separation criteria, whether you knew about it or not.
It’s incredibly simple. The A16 OA can be used anywhere except a built-up area.
(And, a built-up area, which is only used for recreation, can also be used if you do a risk assement).
By telling people the A16 OA can only be used in these built-up areas, used solely for recreation, you are misrepresenting the facts.
The A16 OA can be used anywhere - except a built-up area.
When explaining regulations one must stick to the wording of the regulations and not some other personal definition.
I have already said it a trem I made up to explain it to try to make it easier but I can see it has blow out of control. Now I admit I did not know about a place been able to change form a industrial area into a recreational area but that was a long time ago and I first learn about this when you was on geeksvana. So this is old news. Where did I say that a "recreational area is in article 16 or anywhere else?
Which I agree and I did not realise my two words was saying any different.
Hi Paul
You were telling people that you are an FPV UK examiner and the rules state that the A16 OA can only be used in a recreational area.
This is simply not true.
The A16 OA can be used anywhere, except a built-up area. (And also a built-up area, used solely for recreation).
By saying this, you were making people think that the A16 OA is only valid in a built-up area, used solely for recreational purposes. Which is not true at all.
Anyhow, I don’t think we are adding anything to the conversation at this point. So I am locking this thread.
All the best mate
Simon
