OpenLegislation

Division UAS.OPEN.010 General provisionsF1

United Kingdom

Changes not yet applied. Later legislation changes this provision in ways not yet written into the text below:

  1. (1)

    The category of UAS ‘ open ’ operations is divided into three subcategories F2Over People (A1), F3Near People (A2) and F4Far from People (A3), on the basis of operational limitations, requirements for the remote pilot and technical requirements for UAS.

  2. (2)

    Where the UAS operation involves the flight of the unmanned aircraft starting from a natural elevation in the terrain or over terrain with natural elevations, the unmanned aircraft shall be maintained within 120 metres from the closest point of the surface of the earth. The measurement of distances shall be adapted accordingly to the geographical characteristics of the terrain, such as plains, hills, mountains.

  3. (3)

    When flying an unmanned aircraft within a horizontal distance of 50 metres from an artificial obstacle taller than 105 metres, the maximum height of the UAS operation may be increased up to 15 metres above the height of the obstacle at the request of the entity responsible for the obstacle.

  4. (4)

    By way of derogation from point (2), unmanned sailplanes with a MTOM, including payload, of less than 10 kg, may be flown at a distance in excess of 120 metres from the closest point of the surface of the earth, provided that the unmanned sailplane is not flown at a height greater than 120 metres above the remote pilot at any time.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1

Substituted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/639 of 12 May 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 as regards standard scenarios for operations executed in or beyond the visual line of sight (Text with EEA relevance).

F2

Words in Annex Pt. A point UAS.OPEN.010(1) substituted (1.1.2026) by The Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1106), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 2(a)

F3

Words in Annex Pt. A point UAS.OPEN.010(1) substituted (1.1.2026) by The Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1106), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 3(a)

F4

Words in Annex Pt. A point UAS.OPEN.010(1) substituted (1.1.2026) by The Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1106), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 4(a)