Regulatory Matters

The CAA have recently launched a consultation on a review of the current regulations for unmanned aircraft systems along with the introduction of some new requirements including Remote I.D. The proposals include a simplification of the current Open Category requirements which would see the operational sub-categories re-named to ‘Over’, ‘Near’ and ‘Far’, in relation to … Read More

Members may recall that in early 2022 the Home Office undertook a consultation on amendments to the Poisons Act 1972, which controls the sale of certain explosives precursors and poisons – including nitromethane. See:https://bmfa.club/possible-amendments-to-poisons-act-1972-affects-users-of-fuel-containing-nitromethane-please-respond-to-the-consultation The BMFA attended a meeting with Home Office officials to oppose proposals which would negatively impact those members using high nitro … Read More

The BMFA has been issued with an updated Article 16 authorisation from the CAA which is valid from 22/12/2022 to 31/12/2023. You can download the updated authorisation from the link below https://rcc.bmfa.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Society-of-Model-Aeronautical-Engineers-Ltd-UAS7068-Article-16-Authorisation-Issue-5-22122022.pdf

The CAA have launched a consultation on their Charges Scheme for 2023/24, with the proposed changes due to come into effect on the 1 April, 2023. The CAA proposals include a general 13.5% increase which would take the Operator Registration fee (currently £10) to £11.35.  However, they then apply a rounding up to the nearest … Read More

The exemptions from article 94F of the Air Navigation Order, (see https://rcc.bmfa.uk/ufaqs/article-94f-certain-small-unmanned-aircraft-requirement-for-acknowledgement-of-competency ) has been extended until 30th December 2020 when the CAA intend to introduce the new European UAS Regulations at which point the exemptions should be incorporated in to the specific permission that is being negotiated with the CAA for BMFA members and members of … Read More

The CAA have issued the latest general exemption which removes the requirement to register as an SUA operator directly with the CAA for members who joined or renew with the BMFA on or after 15th June 2020, for a period of 90 days. Members who wish to register with the CAA through the BMFA should … Read More

The CAA have today published an update to CAP1789, which details the EU regulations for unmanned aircraft.  Please see https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP1789%20Edition3%20June2020.pdf . The regulations were due to come into effect on the 1 July, but due to disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic they will not now come into effect until 31 December. The important point … Read More

The CAA have just published the following update: https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Unmanned-aircraft/Our-role/Drone-and-model-aircraft-registration/ which is provided in full below: The UK’s new Drone and Model Aircraft Registration and Education Scheme will go live on 5 November 2019 (please note that you cannot register before this date). There will be two elements to the online system. Anyone responsible for a drone or … Read More

Further to the announcement earlier this week, we will be working with the CAA to clarify the detail of how we can best assist our members to comply with the Registration and Competency requirements which were introduced in the 2018 changes to the Air Navigation Order and become law on the 30th November 2019 for … Read More

Since the CAA finally announced details of its Drone Registration and Education Scheme (DRES) last week we have published several explanatory notes both on the BMFA website and directly to members by email.  However, the flurry of correspondence and comments on various forums and groups suggests that there is still considerable misunderstanding of the scheme … Read More