Hi all, great to find such an active community. I’m a newbie to drones but I have previously held a UK PPL, so I have some good knowledge of airspace etc.
I’m considering buying a drone, in particular the new DJI Mini 3 Pro, I’ve passed the CAA test an obtained my Flyer ID (although not strictly necessary for this drone) and Operator ID. However, I’m now second guessing my own decision and looking for some members thoughts.
I live in Basingstoke, and initially my research led me to believe that I could fly the drone (subject to the necessary safety precautions) in the local parks, however after more digging it seems that Basingstoke have a Bylaw that prohibits this (they list 229 parks and open spaces in their document), so this does not seem to be an option.
My second plan was to use the drone from a boat on the Thames around Shepperton, Weybridge etc., however this whole area seems to be covered by the London CTR, which I believe is Class D airspace and therefore not flyable without ATC permission?
I would welcome any thoughts please, its looking like my new hobby won’t take off (excuse the pun).
I don’t the area of which you speak (I still believe all the streets in London are paved with gold), but class D airspace is usually not applicable to UAV’s
Very similar here, PPL and recently bought a Mini 3 Pro (I also have an Mavic Pro). I’m just a few miles away from you in Overton and the parks here are covered by the same byelaw which means no use of the parks nearby.
However, there are dozens of public footpaths in the area which can be used for TOAL or any public pavement will do as the distances to people for the mini are low. Just being sensible when checking it’s clear nearby during TOAL means I’ve not had anything but positive interactions with passers by.
A couple of great places to fly if you can drive - Combe Gibbet (west of Newbury) and Watership Down (on the way to Kingsclere from Overton).
Hi David, I’m new here too and I recently got a Mini 3 and flew it on Crabtree Plantation in Basingstoke earlier this week. I checked Drone Assist and there is no mention of these byelaws nor were there any signs on entry to the area as I checked when coming in from Black Dams car park. I flew in sight of but well away from other members of the public and no one challenged me. I also saw someone else flying a Mini 2 and had a brief chat with him.
I am not saying that what I did was right or legal but there are loads of byelaws that are ignored daily about playing football or drinking alcohol in certain spaces with no recourse to those offenders.
A few questions to the wider more experienced community here. Is this something that others have had issues with? If you acknowledge the byelaws and move on when challenged is this something that can be ‘managed’?
I realise this is all a bit of a grey area but hey we’re grey arrows right!!?
I can’t claim to be an expert (or even be sure I know what I am talking about), but I have seen mention of most bylaws being irrelevant when talking about drones.
It seems that many were written many years ago, and are worded to ‘ban’ model aircraft flights … they often ‘ban’ small aircraft that are petrol or gas powered, and don’t mention electrically powered aircraft.
It’s certainly worth seeing if you can track down the bylaw and have a read …. It’s likely the local authorities are hoping you will not check!
Looks like Basingstoke does not have a UAV related Bylaw. Simon Hawkins is a well known name with regard to FOI requests to all UK authorities and their responses can be found through the website at the link above.
I live in Stafford, and our Council have a ban policy on drones. This is not a bylaw and I have made the choice to ignore it! I fly responsibly however and follow the CAA regulations pertaining to a sub 250g drone.
“General prohibition
36. No person shall cause any power-driven model aircraft to:
(a) take off or otherwise be released for flight or control the flight of such an aircraft in the ground; or
(b) land in the ground without reasonable excuse.”
“model aircraft” means an aircraft which weighs not more than 7 kilograms without its fuel;
“power-driven” means driven by:………
(c) one or more electric motors or by compressed gas.
“radio control” means control by a radio signal from a wireless transmitter or similar device.”
Thanks for the links, unfortunately there is a now policy in one of the documents in the link you provided, I doesn’t refer to UAVs but it does refer to “Power driven model aircraft with one or more electric motors”
“Pleasure grounds, public walks and open spaces byelaw.pdf”
Interesting. Sorry didn’t look past their statement that they didn’t have a bylaw relating to UAVs. Mind you it was useful to navigate to their actual bylaws for Parks. From the explanation they give for Chapter 6 of the Bylaw you can TOAL outside of the park and fly over.
I also note all the other restrictions they stipulate in their Parks; Makes you wonder what the hell they are for. :laughing
TheIr following Penalty clause for this particular bylaw:
46. Any person offending against any of these byelaws shall be liable on
summary conviction to a fine not exceeding Level 2 on the standard scale. Which is a maximum of £500 in Basingstoke but if I were a betting man (and I’m not) I doubt anyone has been charged and fined; especially when they have stated in a FOI request that they do not have a UAV related bylaw.
Thanks for your thoughts on this, I’ve just ordered my first drone (
DJI Mini 3 Pro).
I was close to giving up on my new hobby, but thanks to feedback from members including yourself, it looks like there are going to be plenty of places to fly!
Sorry didn’t look past their statement that they didn’t have a bylaw relating to UAVs. Mind you it was useful to navigate to their actual bylaws for Parks. From the explanation they give for Chapter 6 of the Bylaw you can TOAL outside of the park and fly over.