What is a drone allowed to do? Permits and privacy in practice

When I turn up for a job, the same question almost always comes over the fence from the neighbour: is he even allowed to do that? The short answer is yes, but not everywhere and not without limits.

Licences and what they cover

Anyone flying commercially needs proof of competence. I fly under the EU licences A1/A3, A2 and STS. Put simply, they govern how close I may come to uninvolved people and to built-up areas. The closer to people and buildings, the higher the demands on pilot and aircraft.

When a permit is needed on top

There are areas you do not simply fly in: around airfields, over railway lines and major roads, over industrial plants and public authorities, in nature reserves. There you need the consent of the body responsible. That can be a form that comes back in two days, or a process that takes a few weeks. This is why I always ask for the exact address with an enquiry, so I can check it early. The coordination is my job.

The neighbour and their garden

Privacy is less a question of technology than of attitude. I fly job-specifically, meaning over the property in question and not over half the street, with the camera pointed at the target. Where neighbouring properties cannot be avoided entirely, anything not belonging to the job is blurred or discarded. I do not capture people.

In practice it helps enormously to let the neighbours know beforehand. One sentence in advance takes the tension out of it, and curiosity usually outweighs concern.

And the weather

Flying in rain, storms or poor visibility is not a question of nerve but of results. Wet lenses give unusable images, gusts blur the shots. In bad weather we move the appointment, at no cost to you.

This article reflects my experience in practice and is not legal advice. The rules change; in case of doubt the authorities' current position applies.