welcome to my first stupid question. I am new to this game and was looking at doing some scenery footage for my wife’s YouTube channel. It is only very small. I purchased a DJI Mini 3 Pro whilst on holiday in the Highlands. After checking the necessary apps, I could see so few places to actually use the drone. Red, red everywhere. I have a couple of questions in relation to this if anybody can help.
I was looking at doing Kylesku Bridge, but it’s covered in red, however the world and his mate seem to film there. Am I understanding the red areas correctly in that it is a total no fly zone or are they flying incorrectly?
Secondly, the area is covered in SSSI. Can I still fly these areas. I follow the links that the apps have in place but I can only seem to find information on not allowing new animals, vegetation etc into the area.
Any help would be greatly appreciated and don’t worry if you cannot answer these I have plenty more questions.
Looking on Drone Scene, it looks like that is intermittent restricted airspace, but it is only active when they have issued a NOTAM.
The restriction is called “EG R610A Highlands”. It states that the people controlling it can be contacted on Military Airspace Management Cell - Low Flying (MAMC LF) at RAF (U) Swanwick, Tel: [01489-443100].
The FRZ - EGR610 at Kylesku is a military Low Flying Zone, it is not active 100% of the tme, and they publish the hours it is in use on the website below, so if you fly outside of these times then you are ok to fly.
As to the SSSI’s, you have to do a little more research and see why there is an SSSI, if it is for nesting birds or a nature reserve, then flying is a no, but if it is for a rare flower or a rock formation, then you should be ok to fly, check the website below for more details on sites…
Hello BudgieUK and firstly thanks for the link you supplied. There are four listed for the highlands, A,B,C and D, how would I know it is A. Is it just Long/Lat supplied on the list?
Your help has been greatly appreciated and I hope opens more opportunities for me when next in the Highlands, Thanks
Hello AlbionDrones, and thanks for your help. I was unaware of the RAF link you supplied and this will help a lot. With regard to the designatedsites link, again this is appreciated and will no doubt help. We sadly spent two weeks in the Highlands terrified of sending it out with so many warnings, so played on the side of caution and waited for totally green zones. As you say, even with the SSSI locations we wouldn’t send up for fear of birds nesting etc. Information is power, thanks for your help.
Yup, know how you feel, I was the same when I first started, and even recently had some qualms on flying with birds around, but as long as you check the details and fly carefully then go for it…
I have been to Scotland 3 times this year, with another trip planned in October, flown around Drumnadrochit, Tongue and on Orkney mainland, the areas are amazing to fly in and lots of good footage from each trip- take a look at the Drne Scene map and you will see where we have been flying…
You’ll find that the LFAs (Low Flying Areas) are only active Monday to Friday (they have the weekends off), so go flying on Saturday or Sunday. I should still check with the RAF guys, but you should be OK.
I am a regular in the Highlands, and fly my drones whenever I am there, just need to check the notams etc, and you should be good to go, I will 2nd what AlbionDrones has said about the North coast, and Orkney fantastic places to get the drone up, as is Skye, Kiktrock on Skye between May and September is a no go because of nesting birds, also should you find yourself there Shetland is another excellent place to fly
hi
i’ll be in scotland in few days. where you guys are checkin notam?
i’m interested in EGR610A too.
Does drone assist shows notam active in this area?
