Normally, you must always keep your drone within direct sight. This is often called Visual Line of Sight, or VLOS for short.
Flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) is flying where you do not maintain VLOS.
You must never carry out BVLOS flying unless you have an Operational Authorisation from the CAA that authorises you to carry out BVLOS operations.
Enabling scalable BVLOS operations
Operating unmanned aircraft without keeping them in view offers significant opportunities for greater efficiency, productivity, safety and economic value. Potential uses include transporting emergency and medical supplies over long distances, making postal deliveries, and carrying out off-shore surveillance.
We have developed a policy concept for BVLOS operations.
This explores how BVLOS operations for unmanned aircraft can be integrated into the UK airspace system.