After an incident involving sleeping seals, a charity offers a reminder about drone restrictions.
If you've newly acquired a new drone, it's tempting to seek out magnificent subjects for your first aerial films - but a reminder of the UK's current drone legislation has been given following a recent incident involving some resting seals.
According to the BBC, the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust has emphasised the need of drone users "always keeping a 100m distance from wildlife," after the charity's founder watched a group of resting seals forced to dive below when a drone passed overhead.
According to Sue Sayer, the charity's founder, these motions may be harmful, if not lethal, for seals owing to the stress and requirement to dive rapidly underwater over jagged rocks. However, it serves as a general reminder of why it's critical to adhere to your region's drone legislation, particularly when flying near humans or wildlife.
The organisation was quick to emphasise that it is not opposed to drones, with Sue Sayer noting, "I adore drones and appreciate the footage they can acquire, but operators should avoid flying above wildlife groups - a safe distance is 100 metres from land, sea, and air."
Interestingly, the UK's drone regulation does not require this 100m separation, instead stating that you should "avoid flying in areas that would disrupt or threaten animals and wildlife." However, the recommendation is a solid rule of thumb for the majority of species, with a recommended minimum flying distance of 50m from humans.
Passing with aplomb
If you're still wondering how to configure your new drone in accordance with local legislation, we've recently created an in-depth guide to assist you.
Before you begin planning spectacular camera moves, the first step is to register your new drone. While the procedure differs by nation and location, people in the United States of America and the United Kingdom can visit the FAA or CAA websites, accordingly.
In the UK, you must register as an operator (even if your drone weighs less than 250g) and pass a brief exam to obtain a flyer ID, which should be displayed on your drone. This test will serve as a reminder of the most recent drone safety regulations, but real-world occurrences such as the recent one in Cornwall demonstrate why they are critical to follow.
While these laws may appear to be quite restrictive at first, with additional UK guidance requiring operators to stay at least 150 metres away from residential, recreational, commercial, and industrial areas, there are also plenty of approved fields and zones that are ideal for those just getting started with their drone.
In the United States, the FAA's B4UFLY app is an excellent resource for live maps, while individuals in the United Kingdom may utilise sites like Drone Scene to locate allowed fly zones in their neighbourhoods.