When Does Drone Registration Start
Drone Registration scheme for the CAA’s new Drone and Model Aircraft Registration and Education Scheme will go live on 5th November 2019 and mandatory registration will be legally required from 30th November 2019.
Who Needs to Register
– As part of the new drone registration scheme, owners of a drone or unmanned aircraft weighing between 250g and 20kg will have to register as an operator
– Anyone flying a drone or unmanned aircraft (including model aircraft) weighing between 250g and 20kg will need to take and pass an online education test. This is free and renewable every three years.
What Does the Online Test Consist of
The online education test will have 20 multiple choice questions and the pass mark is 16. You can take the test as many times as you need in order to pass.
How Much Will it Cost
The cost for the registering as an Operator will be £9 per year. This fee was originally £16.50 revealed in April 2019, but it has now been reduced following pressure from within the drone industry.
The online test is free of charge.
From 4 November 2019 the system will be available at register-drones.caa.co.uk
This education is only required for those who aren’t in possession of current CAA permissions or exemptions for drone operations, such as those related to commercial operators, and model flyers holding a certificate issued as part of a CAA reviewed achievement scheme.
Who Has an Exemption
For holders of current CAA permissions or exemptions for drone operations (e.g. such as the permission related to commercial operations (PFCO) from the CAA will be exempt from having to undertake the online education training and test.
Similarly, where a UK model aircraft association already has an established and CAA reviewed ‘competency scheme’, members who hold an appropriate achievement certificate or award (such as the BMFA ‘A’ certificate) will also be exempt from having to undertake the online education training and test.
Any operators who are not covered under the conditions of a permission/exemption or do not hold a recognised association competency will need to complete the free online course.
To allow operators to demonstrate competence if challenged (for example by the police) the CAA will be issuing a formal exemption that can be used alongside existing permissions / achievements and any other relevant documents. This exemption will be in place until 30 June 2020, when new regulations are expected.
For members of ARPAS-UK, British Model Flying Association (BMFA), Scottish Aeromodellers’ Association (SAA), Large Model Association (LMA) and FPV UK
members will not need to register as an operator with the CAA system if they are a current member of these associations.
With permission, the associations will collect the registration fee from members directly and supply their data to the CAA. This will take place initially by 31 January 2020 and an exemption from the need to register will be put in place by 30 November to cover association members until then.
The associations will issue further detailed guidance to their members in due course.
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