I used to fly a DJI Phantom 3 years back, still have it, was a fun drone to fly.
I registered for an operator license and flyer ID and took it out to a big school event, to grab some film footage from above, to add in to a video I was making, documenting school sports.
I took off, a rugby pitch away from the crowd and competitors for an aerial shot and within 5 minutes, a middle aged- early retired bloke complained to the event organisers.
It turned out that what I was doing, was offered by the bloke complaining, but he wanted to charge hundreds of pounds for it!
I never flew the drone again. It sits on a shelf unused to this day.

So when I came across the DJI Avata 2 drone, online in videos, I was blown away. After months of scrimping, I picked one up.
Before I even took it out of the box, I watched loads of videos about laws and regulations, online “experts”, commercial flyers, hobby flyers, etc.

The things I learned, was that for someone like me (tight budget, fun, hobby flyer for B-roll) due to it’s weight (over 250g), council’s rules, extra costs for a license, etc, it was completely useless.
A book-end, a paper-weight, completely unusable.

The single most frustrating thing I took away from the hours of research I did, was that the absolute contradictions from all parties (police, CAA, drone clubs, local and county councils and more) for flying a drone in the UK, are destroying the industry for hobby flyers.
The knock-on effect is destroying opportunities for film makers.
The whole situation is a complete joke!
Not a single member of any organisation can give a straight, clear, applicable answer to any basic UK drone flying question!

I returned the Avata 2, after many hassles and deliberate breaches of consumer statutory rights (by Argos) and was finally able to exchange it for a DJI Neo drone.
I figured this much lighter drone and more discreet will help capture B-roll footage. I’m probably wrong on this as well.

Contradictions:
Three categories in the UK, A1, A2 and A3.
Some say you can fly above 50m and upto 400m which is defined as airspace, open to all (as manned aircraft can’t fly below 500m) but council’s claim you cannot fly over council owned property, which could be wrong or could be right, the police when interviewed on “expert” youtube channels say , “is a grey area!” – clear as mud.

A1, A2 or A3, you can fly within 50m of uninvolved people (people who are not aware of your flight) this distance varies anywhere from 30m to 150m.

Council’s state you can ask for permission, including a flight path and full risk assessment, which takes 10 working days to process, “but it will be denied as the council only permit commercial flights and council will only authorise flights by commercial flyers” – no use whatsoever. (What’s the weather going to be like in ten days?)

Local council states that you cannot take off, land and fly any drone, over industrial, leisure, residential or public service areas.
What other areas are there?

One online “drone expert” interviewed a member of the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and the police, both contradicted themselves and wouldn’t give a straight answer to any question, once again, “it is a grey area!”
These are the people that enforce and set the laws!
If they can’t give a straight answer, then how on earth are drone flyers supposed to keep within the law?
Their interpretations of the laws and regs they create and enforce are creating an absolutely unworkable position for drone flyers in the UK.

You can take an A2 CofC test, theory and practical, for yet another extra cost, which will allow you to fly in more built up areas, but not in others, yet Article 16 is available if you’re a member of a drone club, for yet another fee, which the clubs have arranged with the CAA, so that over-rules the A2 CofC test and allows you “to fly in more areas and at lower altitudes”

Advertising:

If you’re considering buying a drone to film your B-roll or even local areas, just watch a few youtube videos related to your drone.
Stunning views of mountain/hill tops, remote forests, empty beaches, an empty skate park, etc. are all available.
Look for someone filming with a drone around (even deserted) UK streets? You won’t find any.
Why is this?
It’s not allowed in the UK?

It’s promoted as being ace for this application, but you never see any footage of it being done in the UK.

I can take off and land from my own garden, yet I cannot fly my drone across the street, according to my council, even above 50m or 150m.
I cannot fly around an empty playing field with an A1 or A3 license, even though these are labelled as “open” categories.
I cannot take off outside a park and fly over it, despite there being no crowds of people in the park, at any height, even though the law says I legally can, if above 50m but under 400m, once again, “it’s a grey area!”

One of the most ridiculous rules/laws/regulations is for POV (point of view) drone flying in the UK.
This is where you would wear a very expensive set of goggles and be able to view exactly what the camera on the drone can see.
In youtube videos this looks fabulous. A live view of what you’re filming, fantastic!
Except, wait for it…

If you’re flying POV mode (with goggles) you have to take and pass the A2 CofC qualification (further expense), and also have a “spotter” with you at all times.
VLOS (Visual Line Of Sight) for your drone, for all UK drone flyers is a must in all categories.
Here’s the sting in the tail… the “spotter” must also have taken and passed the A2 CofC theory and practical test!
In half of the youtube videos I’ve watched POV UK drone flying, I haven’t seen any spotter with the operator.
They fly in the great outdoors, miles from anyone.

Even in remote areas, these UK drone flyers continue to get hassled, by rangers, public and others, all quoting laws and regs they’ve obviously never read, with random vans and cars turning up, in the middle of nowhere, demanding to see flyer and operator ID!
“It could damage the local wildlife!” is a common excuse for stopping a drone flight.

So it’s OK in the UK to block a tiny drone from flying, to protect local wildlife, whilst at the same time, run huge wind turbines that pose much more of a threat to local wildlife?
I can walk down a street and film with a camera, filming shops, houses, facilities and leisure areas (as they are public places) but I cannot fly a lightweight drone and film the same things, even when no people are present?

My DJI Neo remains sat in it’s box, unused.

There needs to be a clear set of regs/laws/articles/categories, that everyone can read and understand, without numerous, differing, “interpretations” of.
Until there is, then the UK drone industry will be closed to all but the fee paying, commercial companies.

Thinking of buying a drone for your film-making?
Don’t bother.
No one knows what the laws/regs actually do.

In 2026, the law is being changed again… to bring about remote ID for all UK drone flyers, with data available to 3rd party phone apps.
It will get worse.