FAQ | Drone Services | What you need to know

WHY DO YOU ASK FOR A DEPOSIT?

We ask for a 25% deposit to confirm your booking as the CAA requirements for safe flying mean we have to prepare a detailed pre-deployment survey before we can fly at your location. In the unlikely event of the survey being negative, we will let you know as soon as possible and refund your deposit.

The more information you can give us during the initial enquiry, the less chance there will be of us being unable to deploy.

YOUR QUESTIONS

WHERE ARE YOU NOT ALLOWED TO FLY?

The restrictions placed on SUSA (small unmanned surveillance aircraft) are detailed on our DRONE SAFETY page. However, we will be able to give you more information if you contact us to enquire about a booking - there are lots of locations where we can fly safely so please do not be put off by the extensive regulations - it's part of our job to work through them on your behalf

ARE YOU INSURED?

Yes - we are covered by a £2,000,000 Public Liability Insurance Policy which meets the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) requirements and conforms

to EC Regulation Number 785/2004

ARE YOU INSURED?

Yes - we will be covered by Public Liability Insurance as required by the client (up to £10 million) which meets the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) requirements and conforms to EC Regulation Number 785/2004

WHAT ABOUT THE WEATHER?

Wind and rain can cause problems for drones so the weather is a very important consideration when we come to fly. The maximum wind speed we would consider safe is 20 mph and that has to take gusts into account. This means that we have to be flexible in how we schedule our deployments and we will be monitoring the weather closely prior to the date of deployment.

We will contact you 48 hours before the scheduled booking to confirm the deployment and check again with you before 6 pm the day before.

If the forecast is so poor that we can't fly, we will re-book your flight for a time when conditions are better.

DO I HAVE TO BE THERE WHEN YOU FLY?

It's is a very good idea for the client to be present as that will ensure we give you exactly what you want. We do appreciate that it is not always necessary or practical for this arrangement so we will discuss this with you at the time of booking. If you can't be there we will need written permission to fly from the agreed site.

WHEN DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE PAYMENT?

Full payment should be made at least 7 days before deployment. For quick turn-around work, full payment will be requested at the confirmation of booking stage. If deployment isn't possible on the scheduled day, we will rebook the flight for a time convenient to both parties.

If a flight is cancelled by Ibex Films Aerials because of technical reasons etc. your payment will be refunded in full.

WHAT ARE THE NEW SUB CATAGORIES FOR PERMITTED DRONE FLIGHT

EASA A2 CofC PERMISSIONS FROM 31st DECEMBER 2020

Transitional Period (31st December 2020 - 31st December 2022

From the 31st December 2020 the A2 CofC allows:

Fly a drone in the A2 (open) subcategory (drones up to 2kg) and the A1 subcategory (drones up to 500g)
Fly without the usual 150m separation distance from congested areas used by people (congested area definition is an area used for residential, recreational, industrial and commercial purposes)
Fly a sub 2kg drone to within 50m of uninvolved people (A2 subcatetgory
Fly a sub 500g drone with no restrictions on proximity to uninvolved people but not directly overhead

(A2 subcategory)

Continuing Period (31st December 2022 onwards)

Fly a drone in the A2 (open) subcategory (with an appropriate class drone up to 4kg) and the A1 subcategory (with an appropriate C-class drone up to 900g)
Fly without the usual 150m separation distance from congested areas used by people (congested area definition is an area used for residential, recreational, industrial and commercial purposes)
Fly a sub 4kg C-class drone to within 30m of uninvolved people (reduced to 5m when in slow speed mode (A2 subcategory)
Fly a sub 900g C-class drone with no restrictions on proximity to uninvolved people but not directly overhead

(A1 subcategory)

SUBCATEGORY A1 - Fly "over" people (inherently harmless) toys less than 250g or unmanned aircraft compliant with specific product standard. No flight over assemblies of people

Permitted flight maneuvers:

No flying over crowds
For drones with C1 markings: Avoid overflight over uninvolved persons, if unexpected persons do show up, then make overflight as short as possible.
In Follow-Me mode, distance is not further than 50 metres

Permitted aircraft:

Self-built drones with less than 250 grams total mass and maximum speed of 19 m/s
Industrially manufactured drones with less than 250 grams take-off mass if they were sold before 01/01/2023
Class C0 drones - toys less than 250g
Class C1 drones - less than 900g/80j less than 19m/s remote ID noise limit
Home/privately built less than 250g

Required qualifications

Pilot has studied the user manual extensively
for Class 1 drones: Participation in an online course which must be successfully completed with a theory test

SUBCATAGORY A2 - Fly "close to" people (30m or 5m in low speed mode. Unmanned aircraft compliant with specific product standard only. Additional remote pilot competency as A2 CofC

Permitted flight maneuvers:

A horizontal distance of at least 30 metres must be maintained to uninvolved persons. Rule of thumb: the horizontal distance to uninvolved persons should be equal to the flight altitude. This distance can be reduced to 5 metres if necessay if the drone is operated in a "slow flight mode" which allows a maximum flight speed of 3 m/s (10.8 km/h)
No overflight of uninvolved persons is allowed

Permitted aircraft:

Class 2 drones - less than 4 kg, safely made, noise limit, remote ID, geo awareness

Required qualifications:

Pilot has studied the user manual extensively
Remote pilot certificate (online theory training, self-study on conditions for A3 and submission of an appropriate declaration and further theory examination)

SUBCATAGORY A3 - Fly "far from" people (no ininvolved persons present, 150m away from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas)

Permitted flight maneuvers:

Endangerment of uninvolved persons must be excluded after reasonable discretion (e.g. no flights in city centres)
Horizontal distance of 150 metres to residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas

Permitted aircraft:

Privately manufactured drones with a maximum weight of 25 kg
Industrially manufactured drones with less than 25 kg take-off mass, if they were first sold before 1st July 2023
Class C0 to Class C2 drones inclusive
Class C3 drones - less than 25kg, remote ID geo awareness
Class C4 drones - less than 25kg but more akin to traditional model a/c no automation
Home/privately built drones less tha 25kg

Required qualifications:

Pilote has studied the user manual extensively
Participation in an online course which must be successfully completed with a theory test