Flying Drones at our sites
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust (TCCT) does not allow any private drone flights to be undertaken from any of its sites. This approach is taken primarily in the interests of public safety because:
- Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations state that drones should not be flown above or near to people and property. As our sites and properties often have staff and volunteers living and working on them and visitors accessing them, unauthorised drone flying is potentially both illegal and a risk to people and property.
- Few non-commercial users have the correct training or permission from the CAA to operate drones, or knowledge of the legal requirements governing drone operations as set out by the CAA drone code
- If a drone causes damage or harm, amateur pilots generally do not have the correct insurance to adequately compensate those affected.
- TCCT’s sites include sensitive wildlife areas, farmland with grazing agricultural animals, country parks attracting high numbers of visitors each day and peaceful memorial and burial grounds. The presence of drones has the potential to disturb wildlife; including rare and protected species, impinge on the quiet enjoyment of parks, meadows and walks and pose an unacceptable hazard to people, property and animals.
- If drones are flown over TCCT property from outside its boundaries, the legal restrictions still apply.
our drone policy
The Trust’s policy on the use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or drones as they are more commonly known, is currently as follows. However, it is also in the context of changes to the legislation announced by the government in May 2018 to tighten the rules on the registration and use of drones. The operation of all drones is governed legally by the Air Navigation Order 2016, The Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2018 and guidance issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust (TCCT) does not permit any drone flights to be undertaken from any of its sites without operators having the required qualifications together with a time and date specific licence issued by us.
The use of drones is regulated by the CAA and any complaints or concerns regarding safety and privacy involving the misuse of drones are investigated by the police.
If drones are flown over TCCT property from outside its boundaries, the legal restrictions still apply.
We do not allow unauthorised drone flying from any TCCT land for the following reasons:
- Few non-commercial users have the correct training or permission to operate drones, which poses a serious risk to our staff, volunteers, visitors, property, animals and wildlife.
- Should a drone cause damage or harm, non-professional pilots generally do not have the correct insurances to compensate us for remedial measures.
- Drones should not be flown over people; most of TCCT’s land and sites are open access so we cannot guarantee any area is completely empty. Even our quietest sites are rarely completely empty.
- The presence of drones can spoil the enjoyment of our sites by other visitors
- TCCT sites include sensitive wildlife areas, farmland with grazing animals, country parks attracting many visitors and peaceful memorial and burial grounds. The presence of drones has the potential to disturb wildlife; including rare and protected species, impinge on quiet enjoyment and pose unacceptable hazards to people, property and animals.
The only exception would be made for contractors or staff that satisfy the stringent CAA criteria, have specific insurances and have been commissioned or authorised by the Trust for a specific purpose and in these cases the activity is strictly controlled.
Regulations and guidance on drone flights is rapidly developing and we will continue to review our policy in line with new developments and recommendations.
