Southend Area

[OldSoulBoy]

I fear it’s not going to be busy for some time to come.

[dgbradbury]

I have not bought my drone yet (but it will be the DJI Mini Pro 3, I have a Hover Camera but don’t use it for this purpose) but am in communication with James Meehan of Southend Borough Council about where I will be able to fly. I originally asked to fly to the Mulbery Harbour which he correctly told me was in a restricted area but he is now inferring that anywhere in the CTR1 area is not permissible to fly.

Does anyone have recent experience about flying from the beach in Thorpe Bay over the sea (outside of busy areas of course) or where they have successfully flied, preferably in accordance with a CAA flight plan (using Drone Assist), etc.

Many thanks, Dave Bradbury

[DroneGeek]

@dgbradbury

but am in communication with James Meehan of Southend Borough Council

Never ask the council anything unless you are legally obliged to do so.

Class D is fine. You will need permission to fly in the FRZ or red zone.

see Where can I fly my drone in the UK? - Drone Scene, offering £5,000,000 Public Liability Insurance cover

DJI has their own blue version of this which does vary a bit from the red FRZ. For example the start of the pier is in the red zone, but not the blue DJI zone so the drone might allow the flight despite it being in the FRZ.

Thorpe Bay looks fine.

Mulberry Harbour is on Dronescene and has been flown. I can’t see any restrictions over that.

Mulberry Harbour - Added to Historic Buildings in East of England

I have just added this to the map of places to fly your drone at Drone Scene: [Mulberry Harbour I Southend-on-sea I April 2021 4k] Land owner permission not required. The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 21/04/2021. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location.

[OldSoulBoy]

Torpe Bay beach sits right between both red restriction zones, one for Southend Airport and one for the military base at Shoeburyness. Take off from the seawall between the pier and the Gunners park and fly out to the Mulberry Harbour and enjoy. No restrictions in place.

As has been said. The council will tell you what they want you to hear, not what the actual law is. Ignore them, ask questions here and enjoy your flying.

Phil