{ "name": "dronelicencechecker.co.uk UK Drone Authorisation Rules", "title": "UK Drone Authorisation Rules", "url": "https://dronelicencechecker.co.uk/datasets/uk-drone-authorisation-rules/", "csv": "https://dronelicencechecker.co.uk/datasets/uk-drone-authorisation-rules.csv", "markdown": "https://dronelicencechecker.co.uk/datasets/uk-drone-authorisation-rules/index.md", "computed_at": "2026-10-05", "license": "https://dronelicencechecker.co.uk/terms", "headline": "The UK Drone Authorisation Rules carries 2 published figures read from 3 sources' own pages, from 3 to 12 month, read 26 September 2026.", "quotes": [ "The UK Drone Authorisation Rules carries 2 published figures read from 3 sources' own pages, from 3 to 12 month, read 26 September 2026.", "3 of the 29 named sources read in full publish a figure; 26 publish none, read 26 September 2026." ], "citation": "\"dronelicencechecker.co.uk UK Drone Authorisation Rules\", updated 2026-10-05, https://dronelicencechecker.co.uk/datasets/uk-drone-authorisation-rules/.", "changed_since": null, "national": { "unit": "month", "n": 2, "median": 7.5, "min": 3, "max": 12, "p25": null, "p75": null, "mean": 7.5, "units": { "day": 1, "month": 2, "year": 2 }, "published_sources": 3, "named_sources": 30, "read_sources": 29, "not_published": 26, "published_share": 0.103 }, "by_axis": {}, "rows": [ { "source": "CAA: Recognised Assessment Entity (Pilot Competency) scheme", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/recognised-assessment-entity-schemes/recognised-assessment-entity-pilot-competency-scheme/", "figure": "12 months", "value": 12, "unit": "month", "vat": null, "axis": {}, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-26", "quote": "You must be able to demonstrate to us that you are capable of carrying out your obligations in accordance with the RAE(PC) Scheme. If your application is successful, your approval will last for 12 months.", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "a776edbeaf0cc210c8b1737c08d28b89f8be625363080bab2249509c317e7ead" }, { "source": "legislation.gov.uk: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 on the operation of unmanned aircraft", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2019/947", "figure": "18 years", "value": 18, "unit": "year", "vat": null, "axis": {}, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-26", "quote": "[F55The CAA] shall issue a unique digital registration number for UAS operators [F56who are at least 18 years of age] and for the UAS that require registration, allowing their individual identification.", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "b2d33e7682c1e30ee81d55d9a1df53892d2c683936d63733b708464f9f83e6f9" }, { "source": "legislation.gov.uk: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 on the operation of unmanned aircraft", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2019/947", "figure": "3 years", "value": 3, "unit": "year", "vat": null, "axis": {}, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-26", "quote": "all the relevant qualifications and training courses completed by the remote pilot and the other personnel in charge of duties essential to the UAS operation and by the maintenance staff, for at least 3 years after those persons have ceased employment with the organisation or have changed their position in the organisation; the maintenance activities conducted on the UAS for a minimum of 3 years;", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "b2d33e7682c1e30ee81d55d9a1df53892d2c683936d63733b708464f9f83e6f9" }, { "source": "CAA regulatory library: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (PDF)", "url": "https://regulatorylibrary.caa.co.uk/2019-947-pdf/PDF.pdf", "figure": "18 years", "value": 18, "unit": "year", "vat": null, "axis": {}, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-26", "quote": "The CAA shall issue a unique digital registration number for UAS operators who are at least 18 years of age and for the UAS that require", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "f9a3f941ed3361b0049f2dce8ccde55933f30aa9a09526691397248e7527c502" }, { "source": "CAA regulatory library: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (PDF)", "url": "https://regulatorylibrary.caa.co.uk/2019-947-pdf/PDF.pdf", "figure": "1 year", "value": 1, "unit": "year", "vat": null, "axis": {}, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-26", "quote": "The CAA defines a duration period for the validity of 1 year, for the registration of all UAS", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "f9a3f941ed3361b0049f2dce8ccde55933f30aa9a09526691397248e7527c502" }, { "source": "CAA regulatory library: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (PDF)", "url": "https://regulatorylibrary.caa.co.uk/2019-947-pdf/PDF.pdf", "figure": "5 years", "value": 5, "unit": "year", "vat": null, "axis": {}, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-26", "quote": "On renewal, these Flyer IDs will hold a validity of 5 years.", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "f9a3f941ed3361b0049f2dce8ccde55933f30aa9a09526691397248e7527c502" }, { "source": "CAA regulatory library: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (PDF)", "url": "https://regulatorylibrary.caa.co.uk/2019-947-pdf/PDF.pdf", "figure": "3 years", "value": 3, "unit": "year", "vat": null, "axis": {}, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-26", "quote": "remote pilot and the other personnel in charge of duties essential to the UAS operation and by the maintenance staff, for at least 3 years after those", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "f9a3f941ed3361b0049f2dce8ccde55933f30aa9a09526691397248e7527c502" }, { "source": "CAA regulatory library: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (PDF)", "url": "https://regulatorylibrary.caa.co.uk/2019-947-pdf/PDF.pdf", "figure": "5 years", "value": 5, "unit": "year", "vat": null, "axis": {}, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-26", "quote": "GVC VALIDITY, REVALIDATION, AND RENEWAL (a) A GVC is valid for 5 years beginning with the date of issue notified on the GVC.", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "f9a3f941ed3361b0049f2dce8ccde55933f30aa9a09526691397248e7527c502" }, { "source": "CAA regulatory library: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (PDF)", "url": "https://regulatorylibrary.caa.co.uk/2019-947-pdf/PDF.pdf", "figure": "90 days", "value": 90, "unit": "day", "vat": null, "axis": {}, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-26", "quote": "live flight within the last 90 days.", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "f9a3f941ed3361b0049f2dce8ccde55933f30aa9a09526691397248e7527c502" }, { "source": "CAA regulatory library: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (PDF)", "url": "https://regulatorylibrary.caa.co.uk/2019-947-pdf/PDF.pdf", "figure": "5 years", "value": 5, "unit": "year", "vat": null, "axis": {}, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-26", "quote": "An RPC-L1 Fixed Wing is valid for 5 years from the date", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "f9a3f941ed3361b0049f2dce8ccde55933f30aa9a09526691397248e7527c502" }, { "source": "CAA regulatory library: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (PDF)", "url": "https://regulatorylibrary.caa.co.uk/2019-947-pdf/PDF.pdf", "figure": "3 months", "value": 3, "unit": "month", "vat": null, "axis": {}, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-26", "quote": "An RPC-L1 Fixed Wing may be revalidated within the 3 months", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "f9a3f941ed3361b0049f2dce8ccde55933f30aa9a09526691397248e7527c502" } ], "not_published": [ { "source": "CAA: Remote pilot qualifications overview", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/remote-pilot-qualifications/overview/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC)", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/remote-pilot-qualifications/a2-certificate-of-competence-a2-cofc/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC), specific-category path", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/specific-category/remote-pilot-qualifications/a2-certificate-of-competency-a2-cofc/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: Level 1, 2 and 3 Remote Pilot Certificates and GVC", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/remote-pilot-qualifications/level-1-2-and-3-remote-pilot-certificates-and-gvc/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: Level 1, 2 and 3 Remote Pilot Certificates and GVC (specific-category path)", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/specific-category/remote-pilot-qualifications/level-1-2-and-3-remote-pilot-certificates-and-gvc/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: Registering to fly drones and model aircraft", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/open-category/getting-started-with-drones-and-model-aircraft/registering-to-fly-drones-and-model-aircraft/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: Renew and manage your registration", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/open-category/getting-started-with-drones-and-model-aircraft/renew-and-manage-your-registration/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: Remote pilot qualifications (specific category index)", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/specific-category/remote-pilot-qualifications/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: Drones (service index)", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: Register or apply for a service", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/register-or-apply-for-a-service/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: The Drone and Model Aircraft Code", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/open-category/drone-code/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: Recognised Assessment Entity schemes", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/recognised-assessment-entity-schemes/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: Recognised Assessment Entity for Flightworthiness RAE(F)", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/recognised-assessment-entity-schemes/recognised-assessment-entity-for-flightworthiness-rae-f/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: Remote pilot competency, RAE(F)s and SAIL Mark certificates", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/specific-category/uk-sora-based-operational-authorisations/remote-pilot-competency-rae-f-s-and-sail-mark-certificates/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA regulatory library: AMC1 Article 8(2) Remote Pilot Competence", "url": "https://regulatorylibrary.caa.co.uk/2019-947/Content/Article%208/AMC1%20Article%208%202%20Remote%20Pilot.htm", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "legislation.gov.uk: The Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Regulations 2025", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/1106/made", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "every candidate on the page was refused" }, { "source": "legislation.gov.uk: The Air Navigation Order 2016", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/765/contents", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "legislation.gov.uk: The Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2019", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/261/introduction/made", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "legislation.gov.uk: explanatory note to the Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2020", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1555/note/made", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: CAP 722, Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-publications/publications/documents/content/cap-722/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: CAP 722B, Recognised Assessment Entity for Remote Pilot Competence", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/our-work/publications/documents/content/cap-722b/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: CAP 722H, Specific Category pre-defined risk assessments", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-publications/publications/documents/content/cap-722h/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA: CAP 722D, master glossary and abbreviations", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-publications/publications/documents/content/cap-722d/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "CAA consultation: The Future of Remote Pilot Competency in the Specific Category", "url": "https://consultations.caa.co.uk/rpas/remote-pilot-competency-rpcwg/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "every candidate on the page was refused" }, { "source": "caa.co.uk", "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/remote-pilot-qualifications/overview/", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "legislation.gov.uk", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/1106/made", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "every candidate on the page was refused" } ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/remote-pilot-qualifications/overview/", "label": "CAA: Remote pilot qualifications overview", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/remote-pilot-qualifications/a2-certificate-of-competence-a2-cofc/", "label": "CAA: A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC)", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/specific-category/remote-pilot-qualifications/a2-certificate-of-competency-a2-cofc/", "label": "CAA: A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC), specific-category path", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/remote-pilot-qualifications/level-1-2-and-3-remote-pilot-certificates-and-gvc/", "label": "CAA: Level 1, 2 and 3 Remote Pilot Certificates and GVC", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/specific-category/remote-pilot-qualifications/level-1-2-and-3-remote-pilot-certificates-and-gvc/", "label": "CAA: Level 1, 2 and 3 Remote Pilot Certificates and GVC (specific-category path)", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/open-category/getting-started-with-drones-and-model-aircraft/registering-to-fly-drones-and-model-aircraft/", "label": "CAA: Registering to fly drones and model aircraft", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/open-category/getting-started-with-drones-and-model-aircraft/renew-and-manage-your-registration/", "label": "CAA: Renew and manage your registration", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/specific-category/remote-pilot-qualifications/", "label": "CAA: Remote pilot qualifications (specific category index)", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/", "label": "CAA: Drones (service index)", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/register-or-apply-for-a-service/", "label": "CAA: Register or apply for a service", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/open-category/drone-code/", "label": "CAA: The Drone and Model Aircraft Code", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/recognised-assessment-entity-schemes/", "label": "CAA: Recognised Assessment Entity schemes", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/recognised-assessment-entity-schemes/recognised-assessment-entity-pilot-competency-scheme/", "label": "CAA: Recognised Assessment Entity (Pilot Competency) scheme", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/recognised-assessment-entity-schemes/recognised-assessment-entity-for-flightworthiness-rae-f/", "label": "CAA: Recognised Assessment Entity for Flightworthiness RAE(F)", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/specific-category/uk-sora-based-operational-authorisations/remote-pilot-competency-rae-f-s-and-sail-mark-certificates/", "label": "CAA: Remote pilot competency, RAE(F)s and SAIL Mark certificates", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://regulatorylibrary.caa.co.uk/2019-947/Content/Article%208/AMC1%20Article%208%202%20Remote%20Pilot.htm", "label": "CAA regulatory library: AMC1 Article 8(2) Remote Pilot Competence", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2019/947", "label": "legislation.gov.uk: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 on the operation of unmanned aircraft", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/1106/made", "label": "legislation.gov.uk: The Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Regulations 2025", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/765/contents", "label": "legislation.gov.uk: The Air Navigation Order 2016", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/261/introduction/made", "label": "legislation.gov.uk: The Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2019", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1555/note/made", "label": "legislation.gov.uk: explanatory note to the Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2020", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-publications/publications/documents/content/cap-722/", "label": "CAA: CAP 722, Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/our-work/publications/documents/content/cap-722b/", "label": "CAA: CAP 722B, Recognised Assessment Entity for Remote Pilot Competence", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-publications/publications/documents/content/cap-722h/", "label": "CAA: CAP 722H, Specific Category pre-defined risk assessments", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-publications/publications/documents/content/cap-722d/", "label": "CAA: CAP 722D, master glossary and abbreviations", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://consultations.caa.co.uk/rpas/remote-pilot-competency-rpcwg/", "label": "CAA consultation: The Future of Remote Pilot Competency in the Specific Category", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://regulatorylibrary.caa.co.uk/2019-947-pdf/PDF.pdf", "label": "CAA regulatory library: UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (PDF)", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2019/947/body/data.xht", "label": "legislation.gov.uk: 2019/947 body (XHTML data view)", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.caa.co.uk/drones/remote-pilot-qualifications/overview/", "label": "caa.co.uk", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/1106/made", "label": "legislation.gov.uk", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" } ], "methodology": "Every row is a verbatim sentence read from the named source's own page through our fetch service on the date shown, hash-pinned to the stored read (the sha of the page's visible text; the raw page is mirrored to R2). 3 of the 29 named sources that could be read published a usable figure; 26 published none and are recorded as not published, never filled in; 1 could not be read (blocked, dead or unreachable) and count nowhere. The headline figures (median, minimum, maximum, quartiles) are over ONE figure per source in month (a source's median where its page yielded several accepted sentences), so N counts sources, never sentences; 10 candidate sentence(s) were refused by a reviewer with the reason recorded. The fuller derivation this dataset is chartered to grow into (not yet what the figures above are; they are each source's own published figure as read): one row per AUTHORISATION - Flyer ID, Operator ID, A2 CofC, GVC, RPC-L1/L2/L3, Operational Authorisation - against the thresholds that decide it (aircraft mass and class mark, sub-category, VLOS or BVLOS, minimum age, entry condition, period of validity), each quoted from the CAA's own qualification page or from the instrument on legislation.gov.uk, and each carrying its EFFECTIVE DATE. The derivation nobody publishes: the checker's decision table - answer four things about the drone and the flight and get the one authorisation that applies - held as a dated series across the 1 January 2026 rule change and the 31 December 2027 withdrawal of the GVC, so the same flight can be priced under the rules that applied last year, the rules that apply now and the rules that will apply, which is exactly what a person who bought a drone before the change is asking and what no single CAA page shows.", "embed": "

3 to 12 month

2 published figures, UK Drone Authorisation Rules, across 3 sources, read 26 September 2026

Source: dronelicencechecker.co.uk UK Drone Authorisation Rules
" }