UK – Small Unmanned Aircraft – Control Line Model Aeroplane Flight Within Flight Restriction Zones

1) The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), in exercise of its powers under article 266 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 (‘the Order’) as amended, exempts the remote pilot of a Control Line model aircraft1 from the requirement at article 94A to obtain permission to fly within the flight restricted zone of a protected aerodrome2 subject to the conditions in paragraphs 2 to 4 below.

2) General requirements: a) The remote pilot (within the meaning given in article 94G of the Order), is the person that is holding the control lines while the Control Line model aircraft is in flight. b) The maximum take-off mass of the Control Line model aircraft shall not exceed 7kg, including any batteries, fuel or payloads. c) The maximum length of the control line shall not exceed 25 metres.

3) The remote pilot shall not fly the aircraft over, or within the boundary of the protected aerodrome unless permission for the flight has been obtained from:

a) any air traffic control unit at the protected aerodrome, if the flight, or the part of the flight, takes place during the operational hours of the air traffic control unit;

b) any flight information service unit at the protected aerodrome, if the flight, or the part of the flight, takes place during the operational hours of the flight information service unit and either: (i) there is no air traffic control unit at the protected aerodrome, or (ii) the flight, or the part of the flight, takes place outside the operational hours of the air traffic control unit at the protected aerodrome;

c) from the operator of the protected aerodrome, if: (i) there is neither an air traffic control unit nor a flight information service unit at the protected aerodrome; or (ii) the flight, or the part of the flight, takes place outside the operational hours of any such unit or units at the protected aerodrome.

1 Control Line model aircraft are model aeroplanes that are controlled in flight by one of more (normally a pair) of lines, attached to a handle, that work the required flight functions. The aeroplane is connected to the remote pilot by these lines, hence its flight is constrained to the surface of a hemisphere around the remote pilot dependent on the length of the lines. These aircraft fall under the Air Navigation Order 2016 definition of a ‘small unmanned aircraft

2 See Air Navigation Order 2016 article 94A (as amended by SI 2019 No. 261) and CAP 1763 UK Civil Aviation Authority Official Record Series 4, No.1296

This exemption only applies to Control Line model aeroplanes that are flown for the purposes of sport or recreation. It does not apply to ‘tethered’ flights of small unmanned aircraft that are capable of vertical take-off/landing or hovering, such as helicopters or multicopters. 5) This exemption has effect from 13 March 2019 until varied, suspended or revoked. S L O’Sullivan for the Civil Aviation Authority 12 March 2019

CAA