The UK Department for Transport has announced that new rules will come into force this month to expand the no-fly zones around the country’s airports, following drone sightings that disrupted flights at Gatwick Airport in December.
From March 13, drones and model aircraft will be prohibited from flying within 5 kilometres of runways. This replaces the previous 1-kilometre exclusion zone.
Police will also receive enhanced powers to stop and search in relation to drones, and to access electronic data stored on unmanned aircraft when investigating potential breaches of the law.
In December, drone activity near Gatwick led to most flights being suspended for nearly two days during the busy Christmas travel period, affecting more than 120,000 passengers. A similar event in January caused temporary disruption at Heathrow Airport.
Tim Johnson, Policy Director at the Civil Aviation Authority, reiterated that it is already illegal to operate drones close to airports and warned that those who break the law could face severe penalties, including imprisonment. He emphasised that drone operators must act responsibly and comply with all relevant regulations designed to protect airspace users. The CAA’s guidance offers practical advice on safe drone operation and how to follow the rules.