Clarity on Airfield laws

Questions & Answers
1

The 2.5 mile exclusion zone around UK airports, does this cover all airports or major ones? Major airports on the DJIGO app have a red no fly zone where the drone won’t take off but smaller ones don’t have this.

I ask as I’m on holiday in Cornwall and where I am staying is just within 2.5 miles of Newquay Airport but when I look on the DJIGO app it’s showing as an orange enhanced warning zone, meaning ‘technically’ I could put the drone in the air here, albeit I expect with some serious trouble.

I know DJI don’t police UK skies but I would have thought this should be a red no fly zone?

I wasn’t planning on flying near here anyway I was just curious because one place I was looking at a flight was Bedruthan Steps which I think from looking is just outside the 2.5 mile zone but within a yellow warning zone.

I don’t want to chance anything so thought I’d get some advice here.

2

Download the NATS Drone Assist app, switch off Upper Airspace and switch off Class D Airspace. Then you have what you need. :+1:

3

Basic settings …

Advanced settings …

One additional note on Drone Assist …. the initial map may show forthcoming restrictions that may not apply on the day you are flying.

Clicking on a location you intend to fly will display a list of all current AND forthcoming restrictions.

If you want to check what’s active that day - click the report button at the top and it will list them.

Clicking on any of the reported events will give you the dates/hours between which a restriction is active.

4

I have NATS and on that where I’m staying is literally 50 feet within the red zone and Bedruthan Steps seems to be well clear. So am I safe to trust NATS over DJIGO for information?

5

DJI include a rather “global” solution, and don’t cover many smaller airfields. So yup … trust Done Assist … it’s by Brits for Brits.

Remember, though, it’s the DJI NFZs that prevent the drone actually taking off … even if it’s ok in Drone Assist app.

Not a perfect situation, but it’s what we have.

6

“The 2.5 mile exclusion zone around UK airports” thought it was 5 mile ?

7

… which has a radius of either two or two and a half nautical miles and then five kilometres by one kilometre zones starting from the point known as the ‘threshold’ at the end of each of the airfield’s runways… (Source: https://dronesafe.uk/restrictions/)

The Bedruthan Steps looks ok to me:

05
05936×586 180 KB

8

Radius/Diameter … Statue Miles/Nautical Miles/Kilometres … Feet/Metres

It’s really very straight forward. :rofl:

9

Yeah it’s clear, plus for want I’m wanting to do I’ll be no more than 100 foot up there anyway.

10

You can always ring Newquay International airport ATC and ask them

Smaller airports which have low air traffic might give you clearance to fly but I doubt you will be given approval if you have no PFCO having said that there is no harm in ringing.

Sometimes I wish we had the system the guys across the pond have where they submit a request online to the applicable ATC

11

Really helpful that, when you are stuck with no internet connection, miles from any WiFi.
And you need to submit a request to fly NOW in a particular area where there is an Airfield.
It’s fine if you know your intentions days before you fly.
Not really practicable in my eyes that one!.

12

I am talking about with the pre planning. If you are a PfCO holder you are supposed to plan with site survey before hand. But yes if you are in the a particular part where there is no internet no phone coverage it’s not much good.

13

We have 1600 members, 21 of whom are PfCO. :wink:

14

Sorry I am thinking like a PfCO holder. As I am working toward one.