01/01/2026
UK DRONE LAW IS CHANGING! If you got a drone , even a toy, over Christmas YOU MUST BE AWARE OF THE CHANGES. The following could save you agro, a fine and loss of your drone.
From 1 January 2026 the new rules apply to all UK drone flying.
First change is is the lowering of the weight threshold at which drone flyers must take steps to register. Under the new rules, anyone now flying a drone( (regardless of age of the drone) weighing 100 grams or more outdoors must now obtain a Flyer ID by passing a free online theory test offered by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). You must have this BEFORE you fly anywhere. This replaces the previous requirement that only applied to drones weighing 250 g or more (which meant all the DJI Mini drones were previously excluded from compulsory registration). It means thousands of users, especially those who receive drones as gifts over the holiday, need to get registered to stay legal before they fly.
Alongside the Flyer ID, operators of drones fitted with a camera that can record an image or drones weighing 250g or more must hold an Operator ID, a registration that links the pilot to their aircraft. Each drone must display the Operator ID clearly on the frame or battery compartment. Please be aware that if you take a photograph that may be used for commercial use ( this includes any work task but also for publication (even if the publication is an afterthought!) where it may have a monetary value now or in the future (E.g. on YouTube) you must have COMPULSORY drone insurance in place at the time of the flight. In short you would be well advised to have insurance from now on. This rule captures any hobbyist wanting to publish their images on social media. Operators should also be aware of the current data protection legislation that places you under a duty to register and comply with current rules along with other UK rules on privacy and public order.
From January 1st 2026, all new drones placed on the UK market will carry a UK class mark (UK0–UK6) indicating their capabilities and associated operational limits. This system harmonises UK product standards and gives pilots more clarity about where and how they can fly their aircraft.
Perhaps the most transformative rule is the rollout of Remote ID (RID); a sort of digital “number plate” broadcast from a drone in flight. From 2026, class-marked drones (such as UK1, UK2 and UK3) must transmit Remote ID data including identity and location. This measure is designed to assist law enforcement and aviation authorities in identifying drones in real time and enhancing airspace safety. Older drones will have to be adapted to comply by 2028.
there are other amendments such as new rules for night flying and all drone users MUST familiarise themselves with the Drone Code on the Civil Aviation Authority Website. (www.CAA.co.uk).
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s independent aviation regulator, protects people and enables aviation. Provides guidance and services for passengers, pilots, aerodrome operators, airlines, commercial and general aviation operators, drone users, aerospace and spaceflight organisation...
