London drone pilots restricted and confused by myriad of bylaws
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has seen record numbers of drone pilots asking for advice on complicated bylaws on unmanned aircraft flights. The CAA bans drones within 150 metres of London’s buildings, they are not permitted to fly over any of the royal parks and are not permitted to fly within 30 metres of a person, but there are no fixed rules from borough to borough. There are concerns that there will be increasing near-misses with planes in controlled airspace and issues of privacy as a result.

R ecord numbers of drone “pilots” are seeking Civil Aviation Authority advice amid a mish-mash of bylaws that restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft.

Although CAA rules ban drones within 150 metres of London’s densely packed buildings and large crowds, there is less clarity over the capital’s parks and council-run open spaces.

The Standard asked every borough and the City of London Corporation about their rules for hobby drones, and if they could advise on safe spots to fly. The council responses revealed a mass of bylaws, often with the need for serious planning before getting airborne.

There are also privacy fears — drones with cameras cannot fly within 30 metres of a person — and concerns over an increase in near-misses with planes in controlled airspace.

Drones have posed problems for aviation authorities as their popularity has grown / AFP/Getty Images

The UK Airprox Board revealed an A320 passenger jet coming into Heathrow over London had a “very near-miss” with a drone near the Shard on July 18. The vehicle’s operator has not been traced.

Drones, regardless of size, are banned in all eight royal parks. Westminster council said drone pilots would “be hard-pressed to find a suitable area” in central London due to the density of buildings, and take-offs must be 50 metres from parks and homes. Even if a spot could be found, a safety cordon would need to be “maintained” during flights, the council said.

Drone flights anywhere in the Square Mile are out, and the City of London Corporation warned that the police will “look to prosecute those responsible” for breaking the rules.

The corporation was more flexible about Hampstead Heath, which it manages, saying the constabulary consider public safety when advising hobby flyers.

Lambeth requires drone pilots to complete an application form “to ensure suitability”, while Hackney’s hobby flyers are lumped in with commercial film operators. Richmond had among the most open policies, saying there were no rules banning drone flights over the borough, apart from Richmond Park.

Greenwich, Camden and Barnet have “no drone-specific policy”. Kensington and Chelsea considers the entire borough a “congested area”, and applies 1985 bylaws in Holland Park banning model aircraft, as is also the case in Barking and Dagenham, Lewisham and Redbridge. Enfield is consulting residents about the “potential nuisance caused by drone flying” under a public spaces protection order.

Islington said police or its anti-social behaviour team could “take action against the perpetrator” when drones cause a nuisance to residents. Flying drones in any Bexley park or open space is banned and in Ealing’s parks the 50-metre rule applies. Sutton said a “voyeurism law” was enforceable against pilots of drones with cameras.

A hobby flyer who runs noflydrones.co.uk, speaking anonymously, warned: “Batteries fail, motors fail, software crashes, pilots make mistakes.”