Martin Docherty-Hughes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martin Docherty-Hughes on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidelines there are for the flying of unmanned drones in the proximity of airports.

Mr Robert Goodwill

Article 166 of the UK Air Navigation order 2009 (ANO) requires operators of small unmanned aircraft to maintain direct, unaided visual contact with the aircraft sufficient to monitor its flight path in relation to other aircraft, persons, vehicles, vessels and structures for the purposes of avoiding collisions. It also states that an operator may only fly the aircraft if they are reasonably satisfied that the flight can safely be made.

In addition, Article 138 of the ANO 2009, which also applies to small unmanned aircraft, states that “a person must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property”. This includes persons within another aircraft, and of course the aircraft that those persons are within.

The Civil Aviation Authority issues CAP 722 which is guidance for operating drones in the UK.