Flying A Drone In Central London - *UPDATED* 2024 UK Drone Guide
Flying drones in London, whether for recreational or commercial purposes, can initially be a daunting thought. The required airspace planning, risk assessment and approval process can take time and if you are new to drone flying, it can be enough to put you off. Some areas in London also require additional permits to operate in which can cost more than you might expect.
Below I will highlight some of the more restrictive areas to fly drones in and how to go about getting approval to operate within them.
Contents:
Battersea Heliport Drone Flight Applications
Battersea heliport is the busiest helipad in London. The airspace surrounding it is understandably therefore more restrictive. The map outlines the heliports aerodrome traffic zone (black circle), the extended circuit and the R157 red zone to the north (which I cover in more detail below).
Should you want to operate within their ATZ, you will need to submit a UAV flight approval form and map outlining the area of operation. Your authorisation must be approved at least 48 hours before launch, although giving them seven working days to approve the flight is advised.
Once authorised, there are two permit price categories you will fall into. For flights within the ATZ and circuit pattern, it will cost £150 (not including VAT). For flights within the ATZ but outside the traffic pattern, it costs £25 (not including VAT).
On the day, you will need to contact air traffic control at least one hour prior to launch to obtain ATC clearance and hold public liability insurance for all aviation risks that could arise.
Finally, if your planned flight also falls into the overlapping R157 restricted zone, you will need to obtain additional approval from NATS.
You can find all their contact details to submit your application here.
2. R157, R158 & R159 Restricted Flying Zones
Central London has three major restricted flying zones which drone pilots need to be aware of. R157, R158 & R159. As mentioned above, R157 overlaps a small part of Battersea Heliport’s ATZ. The red circle located within R158 represents a danger area around GVS Citigen’s gas plant. They are effective from the surface and all drone operators are prohibited to fly within them unless you have received approval from NATS. Applications should be made with a minimum of 21 days notice, although these London restricted zones could take longer to get approved. Applications submitted 7 days before your flight may not be processed.
To submit your non-standard flight application (NSF) to operate within these zones, head to the NATS website here.
3. London City Airport Drone Operations
London City Airport’s restricted area can be seen above in purple. Like all protected airfields in the UK, it has a 2nm (or 2.5nm) radius around the airport with a 5km extension from each runway’s threshold. The R159 restricted zone is shown in amber and is overlapped by the extended centreline of runway 09/27. It is illegal to fly drones within an airfields restricted area or FRZ without prior permission from the airport or land owner. For a number of major UK airports, to request permission to fly within London City Airport’s FRZ, you will also need to submit a NSF to NATS. Your application will then be forwarded onto London City Airport for review along with any other airspace stakeholders. Like all the restricted zones, a minimum of 21 days notice still applies for your application.
For the airports latest drone information, head to their website here.
4. Heathrow Airport Drone Operations
London Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. Like London City Airport, it’s FRZ and runway protected zones are highlighted above. Being the size that it is, should you wish to operate within their FRZ, in addition to requesting a NSF approval from NATS, drone pilots will also need to seek approval from Heathrow’s works and safeguarding manager.
All the latest Heathrow drone information and contact details can be found here.
5. River Thames Drone Flying
The river Thames has some amazing features for aerial photographers & videographers. Running through the heart of London, operating a drone on a section of the Thames could get you that aerial shot you’ve always dreamed of.
The Port of London Authority state that “The river is not a safe place for the routine use of any type of low flying aircraft – manned or unmanned. In particular the Thames cannot be regarded as a convenient ‘corridor’ or ‘space’ for drone flying.”
However, should you wish to operate a drone for commercial purposes, you can submit an application. You will still need to get permission from the below units though:
• Civil Aviation Authority
• National Air Traffic Services
• Relevant riparian (riverside) local authority and landowner consent where the drone flight and exclusion area will impact on adjacent land
• Metropolitan Police filming unit (in the central London area)
All relevant information regarding the drone flying application process and contact details for the Port Authority can be found here.
6. Richmond Park’s Drone Policy
Richmond Park is one of the most popular royal parks in London to fly recreational drones. And for good reason too. It features some breathtaking landscapes for creatives to enjoy. Crucially though, it also offers a large amount of open space to practice your flying skills.
With a designated flying area (circled above), Richmond park is a popular place to visit, so before you head down, please do remind yourself of their drone policy. I’ve highlighted their rules below:
To ensure the safety of all park users, please fly drones and model aircraft within the area shown in red on the map (75m radius or 250m in a south west line from this notice) and observe these restrictions:
• Wingspan must not exceed 1m (4m for gliders)
• Powered aircraft and drones cannot be flown after 13:00 on weekends or bank holidays
• No flying above 100m/330feet
• No flying if deer are present
• No competitive flying or launching of balloons/rockets
• No flying using virtual reality headsets
• Flyers are required to have relevant public liability insurance
7. EGR160, The Specified Area
The Specified Area, specifically the section of airspace over London labelled EGR160 (shown above) covers all of central London and is effective from the surface. Crucially though, the specified area over London DOES NOT APPLY TO DRONES, only to Helicopters.
When planning on operating within the EGR160 airspace, you still need to remember to look out for the restricted airspace within the area (R157, R158 and R159) or other temporary restrictions e.g Wimbledon. If wanting to still operate within these zones, a non-standard flight application can be made on the NATS website linked above.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly drones under 250g in London?
Yes - Operating a drone under 250g such as the DJI Mini 3 or the DJI Mini 4 Pro will give you the most operational flexibility to fly in the most limiting environments within London. This is because unlike drones which weigh more than 250g, you can fly a sub-250g drone over the general public (not crowds however). Remember though, some areas within London have blanket bans on drone flying regardless of their size, so always just the area you plan to fly in before getting airborne.
Can I fly a drone in Greenwich Park?
No - Drone flying in Greenwich park is banned unless you have received written permission from the The Royal Borough of Greenwich.
Can I fly a drone at Tower Bridge in London?
Yes - Tower Bridge is located in central London within the EGR160 specified area and next to the EGR158 City of London restricted area. As the EGR158 area covers Tower Bridge and the area to the west of the bridge, flying a drone to the east of the bridge is possible as long as you remain clear of the restricted area. You will be able to get some stunning drone photos from the east side of Tower Bridge. Should you wish to fly over the bridge or within the restricted area to the west, you will need to request permission to do so from NATS. Approval of your flight request can take up to 28 days so plan ahead for this one. Their website is here
What do I need to fly a drone in the UK?
All drones must abide by The Drone Code in the UK. You will need to purchase a CAA operator ID from the CAA. This costs £11.13 and is valid for one year. If you are planning on flying a drone over 250g, you will need to also register for a flyer ID and complete the online CAA test. If you are looking to operate a drone weighing more than 900 grams but less than 4kg up to 50 metres from uninvolved people, (This would include the DJI Mavic 3 for example) you will also need to obtain an A2 Certificate of Competency from the CAA.
9. Hire our CAA Certified Drone Pilot
We are commercially certified by the Civil Aviation Authority to complete drone filming across the UK. Public liability insurance, full risk assessments and airspace planning comes as standard with our rates. With a breadth of experience operating within demanding environments, we offer a service which is both competent and professional. Get in touch today to discuss your next aerial filming project with us.
Resources
With every successful drone flight comes proactive, thorough flight planning. Before every flight, there are several websites I will consult to check the airspace and surrounding area. Below I have linked a handful of those websites which you may find useful:
And Remember…
Even if you get all the required permissions to operate within these more restrictive areas, you must still abide by the drone code and regulations.
These can be found on the CAA website here.
Got a question about operating drones or hiring an approved drone operator in London, drop us a line!