Navigating the Open Category

Navigating the Open Category

Navigating the Open Category can be quite daunting.  CDT recommend using the table below in conjunction with Reading CAP 2013 and CAP 1789A to gain a better  understanding of what and where you can fly.  The ‘All’ row of the table states the ‘Golden Rules’ for Navigating the Open Category.

  Operation  UAS OperatorRemote Pilot
SubcategoryOperating AreaUAS ClassMass/KE/SpeedRegistrationMin Age (solo flight)Competency
AllMTOM 25kgMax height 120m/400ft Max distance VLOS <500mNo dropping of articlesNo carriage of dangerous goods     
        A1  Fly over uninvolved people, but not over crowds  Privately built  <250g ‘flying weight’ and <19m/sOnly if ‘camera’ equipped (but not toys)UK- Nil  Read user manual
  Legacy (placed on market before 1 Jan 23)  <250g ‘flying weight’
C0 (toy)  <250g MTOM and ≤19m/s
  C0 (not a toy)
  No intentional flight over uninvolved persons  C1  <900g MTOM or <80 JYesUK – Nil  User manualOnline trainingOnline (foundation) test
  A1 Transitional<500g ‘flying weight’A2 CofC Theoretical test
  A2No closer than 30m horizontally from uninvolved persons (5m in ‘low speed’ mode)  C2<4kg MTOMYesUK – Nil  User manualOnline trainingOnline (foundation) testSelf-practical trainingA2 CofC Theoretical test
No closer than 50m horizontally from uninvolved persons  A2 Transitional<2kg ‘flying weight’
    A3  No uninvolved people present within the area of flight   No flight within 150m horizontally of residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas    C3<25kg MTOMYesUK – Nil  User manualOnline trainingOnline (foundation) test
  C4
Privately built<25kg ‘flying weight’
Legacy (placed on market before 1st Jan 23
A3 transitional (Article 22)>2kg to <25kg ‘flying weight’

 Until Product Standardised ‘Class C’ UAS are available, legacy UAS will be flown in Open Category.

The text below gives examples of existing ‘legacy’ drones and where they can be flown without breaking the rules. Please read the examples in conjunction with the table above for navigating the Open Category .
Drone Example TypeSituation
Mavic Mini @ 249g  You can fly the DJI Mavic Mini over uninvolved people in the A1 Sub-category, but not over crowds as a legacy UAS. As it is camera equipped and not a toy, registration with the CAA is required (DMARES). You must read and understand the user manual before flight.
DJI Spark @ 350g  You can fly the DJI Spark in the A1 Sub-category, as a A1 Transitional UAS but not intentionally over uninvolved persons or crowds. Registration with the CAA is required (DMARES). You must hold a A2 CofC certificate, read and understand the user manual before flight.
DJI Mavic Pro @ 743gYou can fly the Mavic Pro in the A2 Sub-category as an A2 transitional UAS as it is <2kg. You may fly no closer than 50m horizontally from uninvolved persons. Registration with the CAA is required (DMARES). You must hold a A2 CofC certificate, read and understand the user manual before flight.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro @ 905gYou can fly the Mavic 2 Pro in the A2 Sub-category as an A2 transitional UAS as it is <2kg. You may fly no closer than 50m horizontally from uninvolved persons. Registration with the CAA is required (DMARES). You must hold a A2 CofC certificate, read and understand the user manual before flight.
DJI Inspire 2 @ 4250g    You can fly the Inspire 2 in the A3 Sub-category as an A3 transitional / legacy UAS as it is over 2kg and under 25kg. You may not fly within 150m horizontally of residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas. No uninvolved people may be present within the area of flight – taken to mean you may fly no closer than 50m horizontally from uninvolved persons. Registration with the CAA is required (DMARES). You must read and understand the user manual before flight.
DJI Matrice 600 @ 11kg      You can fly the DJI Matrice 600 in the A3 Sub-category as an A3 transitional / legacy UAS as it is over 2kg and under 25kg. You may not fly within 150m horizontally of residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas. No uninvolved people may be present within the area of flight – taken to mean you may fly no closer than 50m horizontally from uninvolved persons. Registration with the CAA is required (DMARES). You must read and understand the user manual before flight.