Hi, new to drones here just joined as a gold member and looking to buy a drone very soon. Living in Pembrokeshire I’m just working out where I can fly with SSSIs everywhere, although I still think you can fly here with common sense. Still got to choose my drone then, I do like the sound of the mini 5 (if I can slip it past the financial controller, haha). Hopefully will also be using drones next year through my current employment in inspection and may even get put through my GVC ? Tips and advice always welcome.
You can fly over SSSIs, there is no ban on them. They are marked on the Drone Scene (highly advised, best in the business)maps in yellow outline as ‘ground hazards’, that is, things that you need to be aware of when you are flying over them. An obvious example would be an SSSI with rare birds; only an idiot would buzz close to the nests in the breeding season, but 150’ or so up is probably not going to disturb them much! A good bit of the Pembrokeshire coastal SSSIs are to do with geology or rock formations, and are fine to fly over even quite close. But stay clear of rock climbers… Motorways and railways are also ground hazards, as are some parks (because crowds may gather at times in them), and some mark privacy issues around schools and hospitals. It’s basically common sense…
A bigger problem in your part of the world is the red outlined Flight Restriction Zones (FRZ) for the military firing ranges, which are also restricted for public access when they are in use. Castlemartin publishes an online timetable, and may allow flying when the cliff paths are open, but obviously not over the actual range! Red areas include military restrictions, airport FRZ (but you may be able to fly within these by arrangement with the airport’s Air Traffic Control; there’s an online form to fill out), prisons, and royal residences, as well as Nuclear power stations and some security-sensitive locations.
Another issue is the National Trust, which is responsible for much land and coast in Pembrokeshire (serves you right for living in such a spectacular area…). They do not allow TOAL (Take Off Or Landing) on their land, and neither do CADW or Welsh Water; this is within the right of any landowner or authorised management, fair enough, it’s their land or their responsibility. Their published notifications do their best to suggest that you are not allowed to fly over their land, though, and this is nonsense, as is sny attempt by a landowner to charge a fee for overflying. Nobody owns or has responsibility for UK airspace except the CAA, so unless there is s CAA FRZ or NOTAM (Notice To Airmen, temporary FRZ) in force you’re good to fly, TOAL from publically accessible land such as a public road.
You will, of course, need to fly within Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS, in accordance with the CAA’s Drone Code), so your incursion over the property will be limited to that, but you will be flying legally!
Flying a drone is great fun but sometimes you feel the need to have a purpose for doing so and the Challenges category provides some great reasons for you to fly.
There are regular challenges which are open to all, that attract members of all abilities. Support, advice and constructive criticism is freely available; still photography, video and the techniques for editing both are involved in the challenges. Suggestions, for subjects or for complete challenges, are always welcome - take a look in the Challenges category for more information.
We’re a well established club with many knowledgeable members so it’s very likely that any issues you come across will have been discussed here before. Our discussion forum has very powerful search features which should help you find what you need but if you get stuck you can post a new question in the Questions & Answers category.
And finally, if you are new to drones and wondering what it’s all about, have a look at Resources for a beginner.
.You are flying legally & according to the CAA’s Drone Code
.You are not within the boundary of an FRZ without permission
.You are not contravening instructions on any NOTAM (CAA Notice To Airmen)
.As it’s an SSSI, don’t disturb any nesting birds that the site might be designated to protect. If in doubt, nesting season is, very roughly, January to May, depends on the species. Stay high and don’t ‘buzz’ them, or hover about looking like a Kestrel
