Drone and model aircraft rules are based on the risks of different types of flying (operations) and are divided into three categories:
- Open Category, which covers basic, low-risk flying
- Specific Category, which covers moderate-risk flying
- Certified Category, which covers complex, high-risk flying
The categories affect aspects such as where you can fly, the distances you need to keep from people, and the size and weight of your aircraft.
You move through the categories as the flying you want to do gets more advanced and complex. For example, if you want to fly closer to people.
As you move through the categories, you must meet more demanding requirements to reflect the increased risks
Open Category introduction
The Open Category covers basic, low-risk drone and model aircraft flying.
It has three sub-categories, based on how close you can fly to people who are not involved in what you're doing:
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Open A1: Fly over people
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Open A2: Fly close to people
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Open A3: Fly far from people
If you're just starting out flying drones or model aircraft, you'll start in either the Open A1 or Open A3 sub-category.
Open A1 Category: less than 250g
What you can do
You can fly a drone or model aircraft that weighs less than 250g over people who are not involved in what you're doing, but not over crowds.
You can fly within residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.
You must fly within the Open A1 rules.
What you need
You must have an Operator ID if your drone or model aircraft has a camera.
You do not need to have a Flyer ID, but we recommend that you get one.
Open A3 Category: less than 25kg
What you can do
You can fly a drone or model aircraft that weighs less than 25kg.
You must fly no closer than 50m to people who are not involved in what you're doing. You must not fly within 150m of residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational areas.
You must fly within the Open A3 rules.
What you need
You must have an Operator ID and Flyer ID.
Open A2 Category: less than 2kg
What you can do
You can fly a drone or model aircraft that weighs less than 2kg in residential, recreational, commercial or industrial areas.
You must fly no closer than 50m to people who are not involved in what you're doing.
You must not intentionally fly over people who are not involved in what you're doing.
You must fly within the Open A2 rules.
What you need
You must complete a course with a CAA-recognised training provider to get an A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC). You must also have Flyer ID and Operator ID.
If you’re flying a drone or model aircraft that weighs less than 500g, you can fly closer to people than 50m horizontally if you get the A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC).
You must not intentionally fly over people.
This is a transitional option available until January 2026.
Specific Category
What you can do
The Specific Category covers a wide range of higher risk drone operations that are not possible in the Open Category.
This includes operations such as:
- flying over crowds
- dropping articles or spraying crops
- flying heavier drones, closer to people, such as in a residential area
What you need
You must get an Operational Authorisation to fly in the Specific Category.
You must have an Operator ID and meet a higher level of Operator responsibilities.
You will need to be sure that anyone who flies under your Operational Authorisation has an appropriate level of Remote Pilot competency. The level of competency they need to have will be based on the type of operations you want to carry out.
Certified Category
The Certified Category covers the highest risk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations where the risks are at the same level as manned aviation.
Examples of operations that would fall in the Certified Category include:
- operations involving unmanned aircraft with a characteristic dimension of 3m or more flown over assemblies of people
- transporting people
- carrying dangerous goods that would present a high risk to third parties in the event of an accident.
We use the principles set out in the relevant manned aviation regulations for regulating the Certified Category.
Currently, very few operations sit in the Certified Category. Always check if your operations are covered by the Specific Category before considering the Certified Category.
There is more information on Operations in the Certified Category (opens in a new tab) in the guidance material to UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947.