New regulations for drone flyers in the UK from 1 Jan 2026

I don’t know why we ever dropped the requirement. I certainly advised friends and colleagues to take the test regardless. Following any incident it would be useful to show qualification given the low cost. Good to see it return, although I have to re-certify in EU for our trip this year as the UK cert doesn’t travel 🤬
 
WoodyP said:
Criminals casing the joint or flying drugs into the prisons may possibly not comply.
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It’s not something that’s enforced usually, until the aftermath of an incident. Similar to the driving licence, you can choose to ignore it but the consequences when caught will be more severe.
 
In the EU if you recertify before your licence runs out, it's €15, otherwise it costs to take the test again (€25). I've got 3 days to recertify.

EDIT: Just re-certified online and it cost €15, and another €12,79 for a credit-card sized proof of licence .... got another 5 years of drone flying in the EU. 😍
 
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barca nova said:
this sort of bureaucracy makes you grateful for the freedom we have in sailing where you take your tests and courses because you want to and not because some bureaucrat writes a rule to make you.
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I suspect that the closure of various airports by unidentified drones, and other potential safety / security risks have driven some of this. Drones are becoming much more potentially dangerous than sailing boats.

Whether the rules will make much difference may be a moot point, but the Remote ID is probably the key element.
I took the test and got an operator ID anyway, even though under 250g.

Bit of a blow that both drones will not be able to be used after end 2027. I wonder if Remote ID will be available as a retrofit.
 
Yes you can already buy remote id tags to attach. For the mini though they put it above 250g. That weight limit isn’t such an issue going forwards though.
 
I used to fly RC helicopters and planes.

The barrier to entry for remote controlled aircraft was always two-fold ... the cost of the inevitable re-occuring repairs, and the skill and co-ordination required to fly and land a remote controlled aircraft. They were relatively safe because they needed to be kept in line of sight, and the cost of any loss was an instant fine and confiscation for stupidity or lack of skill.

This meant they were not a hazard to general avaition, people flew them in small numbers for the fun of controlling a miniature aircraft - usually in allocated RC airspace.

Then we got cheap camera drones ... anyone could buy one, they flew themselves, rarely crashed, and could be flown kilometers away and well out of sight. Clearly this is a different scenario to the RC aircraft of old, the barriers to entry have disappeared, and they are a much bigger danger to general aviation - hence the legislation.

I think it's a reasonable balance that has been reached, and I personally don't mind the legal requirements for a test, and 3rd party insurance.
 
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