Hello im just looking to open this up to discussion and see if anyone knows if this subject has been talked about before and what many outcomes with the CAA have been.
So looking online in the uk we find many buildings that are over 120 meters high but that limits us to the view we can capture these buildings from.
Surely if a buildings next to you is over 120 metres high you should also be able to fly your drone up to and including the highest point of the building?
Im thinking why dont the CAA have a closest building height limit clause in the drone code?
Almost like building provides a safe height flight limit.
Is there special permissions you can get to fly over this height limit and what is this process?
Do you have to have roof access to take off from as that then is technically the take off point you can go 120 metres from there?
If a person or org askes you to fly over THIER structure ( so only the owner can give you permission it would seem from the wording ) you could do so and its not a given for all tall structures
And the other would be that your drone would not be restricted to fly over 120m / 400f from its take off point like many of the mini drones are now.
For example is 153 meters even if i got permission (no chance without a fat cheque book) the mini 5 pro is bound to 120 meter far short of getting to 168 of 15 meters above it.
Little cry from me with a mini drone now.
Is this a way to ensure only bigger drones that more qualified CAA certificate endowed pilots use to get the best majestic shots?
If your aim is to capture a hobbyist shot of a building which is over 120m and you want to shoot it from above, you first need a drone that isn’t restricted to this level if taking off from the ground next to it - let’s assume it’s 120m lower than the roof!!
Assume you have such a drone eg Air3s…
So you take off with your Air3s, set max altitude to 500m, and fly above 120m, you’re now actually breaking the law…unless your take off point is at an altitude higher than the ground the building’s height was measured from.
To get your shot, you defo could ask for the building owner’s permission to take off from the roof but you’re now restricted to maximums of 50m from it and 15m above.
It’s a pretty complicated issue you raise but completely moot if your drone is restricted to 120m AND you’re taking off very close to the building as the ground surrounding it is highly likely to be 120m below roof height.
No - although the Air3s and upwards can fly to 1000m, doing so without understanding context of the flight and having qualifications and authorisation for such a flight is going to be problematic.
It’s an interesting topic for hobbyists but most professional drone operators know this stuff inside out - and bear in mind most of the superb shots seen in this forum are from well under 120m
Neither of my Mini 3 Pro, or Air 2S drones appear to have been limited to 120m. So if this is something you wish to pursue, there are legacy drones out there that can still fly high.
There was some talk of allowing operators to reclassify to the C1 category, where the height limit is not imposed - hopefully someone can carify if this still exists.
It’s all a bit of minefield at the moment, I find. It’s DJI that have put a blanket 120m restirction on Class 0 drones. Unless you take off from an adjacent building, you will not be able to get above the 120m. It is going to require a bigger drone or Class 1, 2. but then you are into how close you can fly to the building and if it is a build up area etc.
Sorry if I have got this wrong but the drone code Jan 2026 states 120m or 400ft. It does not stipulate any difference regarding class. Now 105m + 15m above max 120m
You can fly up to 15m over a building or structure taller than 105m if the person or organisation responsible for the structure asks you to do a task related to it
Not quite true, the hight limit is taken from the ground below the drone not your take off point. If i take off from a hill that is 100m high and 200m away it doesn’t mean i can fly 220m above the ground next to the building.
Thanks for all the input guys.
Im thinking i will stick to 120 metres for now.
If anyone knows what the process you follow with a bigger drone than a mini 5 pro is to fly higher plus what qualifications you need to do so (CAA permissions and all) i am all ears.
great shot.
