CAA Information Notice

[electrotor]

I don't think there is anything new in this but it is worth a read. Yes I know, regulation, but don't just ignore it as some of us do fly within towns and cities at times.
Para.7 - mutter, mutter, say no more.

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/InformationNotice2014081.pdf

[rob.thomson]

Thanks :-)

[dogzilla]

Seems mostly common sense stuff.

Not many places left you can legally fly in London. Gonna get myself a micro quad and a small plane just to poodle about in when I can't be bothered to drive miles.

[Gundummy]

good info thx

[Dusty]

If I'm reading this right, there are no permissions required to take photographs or video using your quad or plane if the AUW is less than 7kg as long as you're not selling them or earning from them? The only restrictions seem to be no flying within 50 metres of people or 30 metres if they're under your control but does that count 50 metres vertically if you know what I mean? Could I fly over a small crowd of people at 200 ft and not be breaching guidelines?

I also had a "discussion" with someone in "authority" the other day who said a photo I took of our local area for the local area facebook page could be classed as commercial gain.

Here's the page, don't bother liking it as it's only for people in the local area to share info really.

https://www.facebook.com/Annaghmorecommunity?ref=hl

One of the albums is shots of the local schools past and present I took for the headmaster and I hasten to add, absolutely for free, no form of payment of any kind as my wife volunteered my services. The same person as above said the same thing, commercial use as anything posted on the internet away from your home pc then became public and commercial.

Can anyone say in certain terms either way if he is right or wrong?

[dogzilla]

I believe that would have to be for the courts to decide, nobody can tell you for sure. But my opinion is that if you don't take payment and you don't receive any benefit in kind from anyone. Then it's not at all commercial in any way shape or form. What someone does with the footage after you have handed it off is not your problem.

[MarkLincs]

If I'm reading this right, there are no permissions required to take photographs or video using your quad or plane if the AUW is less than 7kg as long as you're not selling them or earning from them? The only restrictions seem to be no flying within 50 metres of people or 30 metres if they're under your control but does that count 50 metres vertically if you know what I mean? Could I fly over a small crowd of people at 200 ft and not be breaching guidelines?

I also had a "discussion" with someone in "authority" the other day who said a photo I took of our local area for the local area facebook page could be classed as commercial gain.

Here's the page, don't bother liking it as it's only for people in the local area to share info really.

https://www.facebook.com/Annaghmorecommunity?ref=hl

One of the albums is shots of the local schools past and present I took for the headmaster and I hasten to add, absolutely for free, no form of payment of any kind as my wife volunteered my services. The same person as above said the same thing, commercial use as anything posted on the internet away from your home pc then became public and commercial.

Can anyone say in certain terms either way if he is right or wrong?

Well how come I have a permission for Aerial work for under kilos from the CAA then

Threads going to need deleting after that comment!

[Dusty]

If I'm reading this right, there are no permissions required to take photographs or video using your quad or plane if the AUW is less than 7kg as long as you're not selling them or earning from them? The only restrictions seem to be no flying within 50 metres of people or 30 metres if they're under your control but does that count 50 metres vertically if you know what I mean? Could I fly over a small crowd of people at 200 ft and not be breaching guidelines?

I also had a "discussion" with someone in "authority" the other day who said a photo I took of our local area for the local area facebook page could be classed as commercial gain.

Here's the page, don't bother liking it as it's only for people in the local area to share info really.

https://www.facebook.com/Annaghmorecommunity?ref=hl

One of the albums is shots of the local schools past and present I took for the headmaster and I hasten to add, absolutely for free, no form of payment of any kind as my wife volunteered my services. The same person as above said the same thing, commercial use as anything posted on the internet away from your home pc then became public and commercial.

Can anyone say in certain terms either way if he is right or wrong?

Well how come I have a permission for Aerial work for under kilos from the CAA then

Threads going to need deleting after that comment!

Apologies, not my intention at all. I am merely curious as to where I stand. I do record my flights and as above the odd pic for my own use but if it's going to land me in hot water the record function will simply no longer be used!!!

[electrotor]

Well how come I have a permission for Aerial work for under kilos from the CAA then

Threads going to need deleting after that comment!

Simple.

CAP 658

Chapter 14 Aerial Work
To undertake aerial work all SUA and rockets require an ANO Permission from the CAA.

1 Aerial Work Defined
A flight is considered to be aerial work if it is undertaken for 'valuable consideration'.

2 Valuable Consideration Explained
Valuable consideration is defined as any gain you may make from the work undertaken.
In even simpler terms:
if, because of SUA flying, you are better off at the end of the day than when you started, you have probably been doing aerial work.
You may ignore any gain of nominal value – a pint of beer for instance, but a crate of the same is probably valuable consideration.

For more information regarding aerial work and UAVs, or for making an application for aerial work, please refer to the following documents:
• CAP 722 Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace – Guidance
(Available via www.caa.co.uk/cap722.)
• UK CAA Policy for Light UAV Systems
(Available via the CAA website www.caa.co.uk.)

[electrotor]

If I'm reading this right, there are no permissions required to take photographs or video using your quad or plane if the AUW is less than 7kg as long as you're not selling them or earning from them? The only restrictions seem to be no flying within 50 metres of people or 30 metres if they're under your control but does that count 50 metres vertically if you know what I mean? Could I fly over a small crowd of people at 200 ft and not be breaching guidelines?

I also had a "discussion" with someone in "authority" the other day who said a photo I took of our local area for the local area facebook page could be classed as commercial gain.

Here's the page, don't bother liking it as it's only for people in the local area to share info really.

https://www.facebook.com/Annaghmorecommunity?ref=hl

One of the albums is shots of the local schools past and present I took for the headmaster and I hasten to add, absolutely for free, no form of payment of any kind as my wife volunteered my services. The same person as above said the same thing, commercial use as anything posted on the internet away from your home pc then became public and commercial.

Can anyone say in certain terms either way if he is right or wrong?

As long as there is no valuable consideration as clearly defined above in CAP 658 you will not be conducting aerial work. I have done this myself for a local activity centre on the clear understanding that it was not for any gain on my part. Point the  person in authority to this chapter.
The distance of 50m is not qualified by a particular direction so 200ft above is OK. However if the model was to fail and drop straight down you may be liable if it can be shown that anything you did was negligent.

ANO Article 138 – Endangering safety of any person or property
A person must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property.'

ANO Article 166 Small unmanned aircraft
(2) The person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft may only fly the aircraft if reasonably satisfied that the flight can safely be made.

[Dusty]

Well how come I have a permission for Aerial work for under kilos from the CAA then

Threads going to need deleting after that comment!

Simple.

CAP 658

Chapter 14 Aerial Work
To undertake aerial work all SUA and rockets require an ANO Permission from the CAA.

1 Aerial Work Defined
A flight is considered to be aerial work if it is undertaken for 'valuable consideration'.

2 Valuable Consideration Explained
Valuable consideration is defined as any gain you may make from the work undertaken.
In even simpler terms:
if, because of SUA flying, you are better off at the end of the day than when you started, you have probably been doing aerial work.
You may ignore any gain of nominal value – a pint of beer for instance, but a crate of the same is probably valuable consideration.

For more information regarding aerial work and UAVs, or for making an application for aerial work, please refer to the following documents:
• CAP 722 Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace – Guidance
(Available via www.caa.co.uk/cap722.)
• UK CAA Policy for Light UAV Systems
(Available via the CAA website www.caa.co.uk.)

Very helpful and much appreciated, many thanks.

I'm a bit more at ease now :D