Just recently, I’ve been asked to do some marketing videography/images for a property in Wiltshire. I have successfully applied for and flown in the Boscombe Down FRZ several times before so imagine my suprise when I received the following repsonse:
“*unable to allow this activity as we do not accept DJI or Chinese manufactured drones within our Flight restriction zone”
Is this a new ‘guidline’ or the MOD declaring UDI in a piece of UK airspace. I have emailed UAVenquiries at the CAA
Has anybody here heard or been subject to anything similar?
Yes. the TOAL point is on private land but within the FRZ as designated by drone assist and 2.73miles from the main runway centre point. I’m now in a conversation with BD, and it may be possible to fly outside of the published operational hours, (eg the weekend) but it’s subject to approval by all the airfield stakeholders. It will be interesting to see what the CAA have to say about it, if anything. I have flown within their FRZ sevral times, quite close to the field but with permission from ATC (.5 km of the end of the runway 23 for the local golf club) so imagigne my surprise when i received the reponse I did about DJI drones.
Thanks for your repsonse. I will post the outcome if it may be of interest to others.
I had a similar thing happen at upavon near Trenchard lines. I was looking for a lost dog with Drone SAR. I called the Range control office for permissions and was given permission depending what drone I was using, I informed them it was DJI and they then revoked permission to fly.
Probably as well not to view them as an enemy too…
They’re a lot bigger than us - economically and militarily. A conflict with them would only end very badly for us.
They aren’t actually a threat to the UK - they don’t have an army stationed on our borders, and pose no real threat to us. Cooperation with them would be in everyone’s interest.
The US are fearful of China displacing them as the world’s preeminent economy - though this is absolutely inevitable - and are trying to forment antipathy towards China in a vain attempt to avoid this
Its a new one on me but somewhat predictable.
The MoD dont allow BYD (ie chinese electric) cars to park within certain distances of buildings on sites for spying fears.
From that, its natural that it might be extended to DJI drones. Like it or not, they have been caught a few times now sending data back to China that they claimed they were not. I can see the risk.
As for the “Its private land” thing - remember the new National Security Act 2023 may override that in this case so “Send it” may not be wise.
Yes I have heard about this too. I wouldnt be surprised if they start vehicle checks on BYD cars driving past military bases. Haven’t the MOD heard that HMG are toadying up to the Chinese, our own PPS regard the CCP as ‘not an enemy state’ I presume the MOD is still a government funded (taxpayer) department. I wonder if they’ve got that memo yet? I also thought that CAA governed the airspace and allocated areas such as FRZs, MATZ, TMA etc etc, with their attendant regulations to protect air traffic. This looks like UDI declared by the airfield stakeholders, not by the governing body.
I’m still waiting to a response to my request to fly. It’s under review and has been following a call to Boscombe Down ATC and I still havent’ heard a peep from the CAA other than an automated reply to thank me for my enquiry
