Remote Pilot Compliance Requirements for Tethered Small Unmanned Aircraft of 250g or More

In plain language

If your tethered drone weighs 250g or more, you must hold and carry proof of pilot competency, maintain required horizontal distances from uninvolved persons, buildings, and certain areas, and comply with standard height, VLOS, and geo-zone rules.

Requirement as structured

A remote pilot must not fly a tethered small unmanned aircraft with an MTOM of 250g or more unless they comply with specified provisions of Part A of the Annex to the Unmanned Aircraft Implementing Regulation.

Original regulatory text

where the tethered small unmanned aircraft has a MTOM 250g or more, the following provisions of Part A of that Annex— i point UAS.OPEN.010(2) (maximum operating height); ii point UAS.OPEN.020(4)(b) (competency); iia point UAS.OPEN.040(A1) (horizontal distance from uninvolved persons); iii point UAS.OPEN.040(1) (overflight of people); iv point UAS.OPEN.040(2) ( horizontal distance from certain areas ); iva point UAS.OPEN.040(2A) (horizontal distance from buildings); v point UAS.OPEN.060(1)(a) insofar as relates to carrying proof of competency; vi point UAS.OPEN.060(1)(d) (certain safety checks); vii point UAS.OPEN.060(2)(a) (fitness to fly); viii point UAS.OPEN.060(2)(b), insofar as it requires the remote pilot to keep the unmanned aircraft in visual line of sight; ix point UAS.OPEN.060(2)(b), insofar as it relates to discontinuing the flight in certain circumstances; x point UAS.OPEN.060(2)(c) (geographical zones); xi point UAS.OPEN.060(3) (flights close to emergency response).

Applies when

country

United Kingdom

min mtom kg

0.25

aircraft type

tethered small unmanned aircraft

regulatory category

General