Beyond line of sight in the UK: two small steps in September
Nothing has changed for Open Category flying: the drone stays in sight. But the CAA made two updates in September for operators who want to fly beyond it.
Flying close to structures: operators already approved to fly beyond sight within 30m of buildings, or within 15m of power lines, railways and roads, can now add similar sites without a full reassessment of each one.
Detect and avoid: the CAA's updated policy sets out the evidence it wants before relying on equipment that spots other aircraft. There's no blanket approval yet.
The CAA's goal is routine flights beyond sight by 2027. There's more detail, with the CAA's sources, in our article on what changed in September.
Has anyone here applied for permission to fly beyond line of sight? What did the process involve, and what did the equipment cost?