With the cancellation of over 1,000 flights at Gatwick Airport due to drone sightings last December 2018 and other reports of drones affecting other airports, the UK government has finally decided to extend the drone no-fly zone around airports from 1 kilometre to 5 kilometres. This will take effect on the 13th of March 2019.
The information was published at Drone Safe UK:
On 13 March 2019 the drone flight restriction zone around airports and airfields changes. The government has introduced a new rule stating that the 1km restriction from the airfield boundary is replaced by a restriction using the airfield’s existing aerodrome traffic zone, which has a radius of either two or two and a half nautical miles and then five kilometres by one kilometre zones starting from the point known as the ‘threshold’ at the end of each of the airfield’s runways. Both zones extend upwards to a height of 2,000 feet above the airfield. It is illegal to fly any drone at any time within these restricted zones unless you have permission from air traffic control at the airport or, if air traffic control is not operational, from the airport itself.
The UK government also intends via new legislation to extend police powers with the police being able to stop and search people who are suspected of breaching the no-fly zone areas. Part of such proposed legislation will allow the police as long as they get a warrant to access electronic data stored in a drone.
For drone owners, there are already maps available that they can consult to see the restrictions at some of the major airports in the UK that can be found at the Drone Safe UK website.
Existing drone regulations already restrict drones from flying above 400 feet and violating rules can result into a prison sentence up to 5 years. Those who use drones for commercial activities such as surveying will need to ask permission if they will conduct it in a no-fly zone.
Some airsoft events use drones for various purposes such as for aerial videos of the game below or for reconnaissance. Events organisers should consult their maps if the game sites are within the restricted areas of airports and other installations that are considered to be off limits by the government.