Flying A Drone In Oxford - 2024 UK Drone Guide
The city of Oxford is well known for its stunning 12th century buildings and surrounding architecture. Its abundance of beautiful university colleges paired with pristine grounds makes for a wonderful city to film and photograph from above.
Like most major cities in the UK however, several local laws and restrictions have been put in place beyond the CAA Drone Code to prevent people flying dangerously within protected and built-up areas. Therefore I’ve highlighted the more restrictive areas to fly drones in and how to go about getting approval to operate within them.
Contents:
Oxford University Parks Drone Flying
Drone flying for recreational purposes within the Oxford University Parks is prohibited. Operators wishing to fly for commercial reasons will need to provide a flight plan, risk assessment and their public liability insurance to the parks team for approval. They can be contacted via email here
The University safety office has outlined their specific drone operating requirements here
Furthermore, if you are going to be employed to operate on University grounds, they will require you to hold a minimum £10 million public liability insurance.
2. Oxford City Council Parks & Open Spaces
Oxford City Council maintains several parks and open spaces across the city. Sadly however, they have taken a blanket view across all their parks that drone & model aircraft flying shall be prohibited. It is important therefore to make sure you don’t infringe these park boundaries when operating nearby.
If you have a commercial need to fly within these parks, you can contact them via email here with your request.
Below is a list of all the parks in Oxford which are looked after by the Oxford City Council:
3. Wytham Woods Drone Flying
Wytham Woods is a site of special scientific interest and covers an area of 1000 acres north-west of the city centre. It has been maintained by Oxford University since 1942 so operating drones within this area comes under similar rules to operating within the University Parks.
To gain permission to fly in the woods, you must submit your flight request along with insurance, flight plan and risk assessment to Nigel Fisher. You can find his email address here
Like the University Parks, as a third party operator, you will need £10 million public liability insurance.
On the day of flying, they require you to call Oxford airport and Brize Norton air traffic control to let them know of your flight intentions. As Wytham Woods is outside both Brize Norton’s and Oxford Airport’s flight restriction zone, you don’t need their permission to fly, it is simply good airmanship to let them know what your flight plan is.
All Wytham Woods’ drone operating information can be found here
4. Wildlife Reserves
Oxford has several ongoing wildlife conservation projects and initiatives, all of which are maintained by Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. These areas highlighted in light blue above include Pixey Mead, Sydlings Copse, C.S. Lewis Nature Reserve and Iffley Meadows. More exist to the South-East and South-West of the City of Oxford and can be found on the NoFlyDrones map here
Permission from the Wildlife Trust will need to be granted in order to fly over these areas. This can be done by emailing them here. Do bear in mind though that flying permission is normally only granted if deemed to benefit the Wildlife Trust’s objectives.
5. Flying A Drone Near The Railway Track
Oxford Railway station is located on the Western side of the city and Network Rail operates a number of lines through the station in a North-South orientation. If you are hoping to operate within the 100-metre corridor covering the railway line, Network Rail has outlined some operational guidance for drone users wishing to fly near/ over the tracks.
For hobbyist pilots, they require you to abide by The CAA Drone Code and remind you that you could be personally liable for damages if you don’t hold public liability insurance in excess of £5 million.
For professional operators, Network Rail’s drone guidance is more detailed. You can find all their professional operating requirements here
If you have any concerns or queries, you can email Network Rail’s Air Operation Team here
6. Drone Flying Near Oxford Airport
London Oxford Airport is located to the North of the city and, like other airports in the UK, it has a a Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) shown in red which is 2nm or 2.5nm in radius and has a runway protection zone 5nm by 1nm which extends at each end of the runway.
Flying within Oxford Airport’s FRZ is possible, but they require you to submit a flight request for approval at least 48 hours in advance of your flight. This can either be done via Altitude Angel’s website (shown above) or via the Drone Assist App. If you have a more urgent request, complete your application and call the airport office on +44 (0)1865 290650 during working hours.
It is worth noting that Oxford Airport’s FRZ is active 24 hours a day and all drones of any mass (yes that includes toy drones and sub 250g drones like the DJI Mini 4 Pro) are prohibited from operating within it without prior permission.
Finally, once approval has been granted, you must contact Oxford Air Traffic at least one hour before you intend to begin flying. Their contact number is: 01865 290 650.
For more details on the flight application process, please visit Oxford Airport’s Drone information page here
Their permit pricing is shown below:
Recreational - Day, Free
Commercial - Day, £10
Commercial - Permit, £30
7. The John Radcliffe Hospital Helipads
The John Radcliffe Hospital is located to the North-East of the city and has two helipads (although only one is operational at any given time). Due to ongoing maintenance work of the helipad and cladding repairs to the hospital building, only the helipad to the South-East of the hospital is currently operational.
Emergency helicopters operating in and out of the hospital will be flying below 400ft within the local area and during take-off and landing. It is critical therefore to always keep a good look-out for helicopters and if you spot one flying towards your drone, land immediately and wait until it has passed before flying again.
There are currently no airspace restrictions beyond the standard ground hazard warnings, but it would be wise to avoid operating close to the hospital unless absolutely necessary to do so.
8. 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 would 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!
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!