Drone Operator Label CAA UK

UK CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) approved pilot Stefanie Williams has over 30 years flying experience and today runs one of the UK’s most successful drone filming companies “Aerialworx”. Speaking with her at this years BMFA conference, it quickly becomes apparent that she is very knowledgeable, passionate about flying and passionate about passing on her experiences and encouraging other young people to enter the industry. Coming from two previous generations of pilots, flying is deeply engrained within her and she started flying radio control aircraft at the age of 12, started competition flying at the age of 16 and started flying fixed wing single engine passenger aircraft at the age of 21.

She is certainly one of the most accomplished pilots within the industry and has worked on over 280 productions raging from blockbuster feature films to award winning dramas and television productions.

The CAA National Drone Registration Scheme (DRES)

With effect from November 2019, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Drone Registration and Education Scheme (DRES) has gone live for all drone operators to register. This is a legal requirement and all drone operators** have until the end of November 2019 to comply.

** All drone operators, operating unmanned aircraft weighing between 250g and 20kg must register by law.

The CAA Compulsory Education Scheme

The scheme will also require owners to partake in compulsory education which can be renewed every three years. The education is only required for operators who aren’t in possession of any current CAA permissions or exemptions such as those related to commercial operators and model flyers holding a certificate as part of a CAA reviewed achievement scheme.

The CAA Drones Reunited website

Alongside the launch of DRES, the CAA unveiled its ‘Drones Reunited’ platform that is designed to reunite operators with lost drones.

Access to the new scheme will be free as part of drone registration, which will grant each operator a unique code that must be applied to their drone facilitating the recovery of drones.

The CAA’s assistant director of communications, Jonathan Nicholson, said: “Drones Reunited is a UK-first – an essential service that is only possible thanks to the drone registration scheme that is also launched today.

“The service is about giving something back to the community, helping responsible drone owners and operators to be reunited with lost drones and continue flying.”