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So at the end of 2020 the rules on what sort of drones need registration changed.


Anything above 250g needs to be registered. If the drone is under 250g and has a camera then it needs to be registered.


If it doesn't have a camera or is a toy drone it doesn't need registration.


Here's a guide to where drones should and shouldn't fly: https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code/where-you-can-fly


The interesting bit is that most of the regulations don't apply to drones under 250g. That's why so many of them are 249g.


So, as long as the drone is registered (if necessary) it's pretty likely the operator was flying legally.

It reminds me of my first encounter with a commercial drone a few years ago. We were in a 9th floor meeting room with windows facing onto the street, discussing some sensitive HR issues with a big presentation on screen, when we heard a "whirr" and saw a shadow cross the windows. Didn't think much about it, then it happened again, so a couple of us went out of the meeting room to a place we could look down and saw three guys and a van standing looking up at our windows.


They were totally bemused when we came marching out asking what the f**k they were doing, and it turned out they were a local video production company with offices near us, playing with a new toy, but when they showed us the footage they'd got just by doing a flyby, it was completely crystal clear of what we had up on screen (and yes, they deleted it).


But it really made me think and I'm much more cautious about keeping curtains and blinds open at home as a result.

I'd like to see drones used by local authorities for screening house chimneys and other posible sources of harmful emanations. That's assuming there's apparatus available that's small enough to be carried, and that can do real-time detection and location-logging of at least some of the usual poisons and particulates. Any likely hits could then be followed up if necesssary by more detailed and extensive sampling.
  • 4 months later...
We had one at the weekend working its way along back gardens then seemingly crossing the road for a look over there. Bit worried about it to be honest. Could be a burglar.A couple of years ago I met a bloke in the park who had the control in his hand. We were by the cricket nets. He said I could look at his screen - he was watching four people playing golf up at Dulwich Golf club. He said he wouldn't get caught because of the distance it could fly.

There have been a number of drone sightings this week in people's gardens in Grove Park, part of which backs on to Copleston Rd. You need to report it to the police, who seem to be taking it quite seriously.


They say to keep anything informative (documents, cards etc) or valuable away from windows, close all windows when you go out leave shutters partially open as closed makes it look like you are out, They even said to keep doors secured even when at home.


The seen in Grove Park is reckoned by someone who is familiar with them to be quite a good one, which he would have expected to cost between ? 800 and .?1000.

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