Class Marks - CAA consultation on extension to Legacy and Transitional UAS provisions in the Open Category

[PingSpike]

CAP3105, published today, contains significant information relating to Class Marks.

We propose to:

• Implement UAS product requirements for UAS intended to be used in the Open Category from 1st January 2026, such that UAS placed on the market are safe and secure by design, to minimise the likelihood and impact of UAS causing harm.

• Amend regulation to use UK-specific class-identification labels on class-marked UAS, replacing the C0 label with UK0 and so forth, to differentiate between compliance in the UK and EU.

And:

We propose to:

• Implement Direct Remote ID product and operational requirements from 1st January 2026. These requirements will come into force for UK1, UK2, UK3, UK5 and UK6 UAS

And:

Implement geo-awareness for UK1, UK2 and UK3 UAS from 1st January 2026.

From 1st January 2028, geo-awareness will also be required for UK0 UAS with cameras weighing 100g or more. This will help prevent UAS entering restricted airspace without appropriate permission.

The geo-awareness requirements for UK5 and UK6 UAS will continue to be optional. UK4 UAS, legacy UAS and privately built UAS will remain out of scope.

And:

Amend regulation to allow EU class-marked UAS to operate in the Open Category, in the same sub-categories as their UK equivalents, prior to 1st January 2028. This aims to support UAS users conduct operations in the Open Category before UK class-marked UAS become widely available.

More details in the CAP3105 document.