As of 1 January 2026, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has implemented significant changes to the law governing unmanned aircraft (drones) — with new requirements around registration, markings, weight categories, Remote ID and image-capture operations that every business operator should understand. Many businesses use drones to capture exciting images and video of their operations. It’s essential you now know how to remain compliant if you operate a drone.
1. Lowered Registration Thresholds & New ID Requirements
One of the biggest shifts is the reduced weight threshold for mandatory registration and competency requirements:
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Flyer ID (proof of passing the CAA theory test) is now required for anyone flying a drone or model aircraft weighing 100 g or more.
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Operator ID (registration linked to the person/organisation responsible for the drone) is required for:
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All drones ≥ 100 g with a camera, and
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Drones ≥ 250 g regardless of camera.
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This change dramatically expands the number of drones and pilots who must be registered and tested, even if previously exempt under the old 250 g standard.
For businesses, this means every pilot operating drones over 100 g with imaging capability must be both competent (Flyer ID) and the organisation must be registered (Operator ID) before flight.
2. New UK Class Marking System
From January 2026, all new drones placed on sale in the UK must carry a UK class mark (UK0-UK6). These class marks define:
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Operational category,
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Weight bands, and
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Where and how the drone can fly safely.
For example:
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UK0/UK1: lighter, permitted closer to people;
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UK2 and above: heavier and requiring more stringent operational limits or authorisations.
Legacy drones (purchased before 1 January 2026) or those without UK class markings can still be flown, but they must comply with the legacy weight-based rules and operational limits until at least 31 December 2027.
For operators, this means keeping stock and maintenance records up to date, knowing which class mark applies to each platform, and ensuring that operational planning aligns with the class-specific rules.
3. Remote ID: The New In-Flight Transparency Standard
Remote Identification (Remote ID) — a means for in-flight broadcasting of your drone’s identity and location — is now law:
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From 1 January 2026, new drones with UK class marks UK1, UK2, UK3, UK5 and UK6 must broadcast Remote ID while flying.
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From 1 January 2028, this requirement expands to:
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Legacy drones,
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UK0 drones ≥ 100 g with a camera, and
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Privately built drones ≥ 100 g with a camera.
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For commercial users, Remote ID adds a layer of operational accountability — particularly important for operations in congested or controlled environments.
4. Implications for Image & Data Capture
One of the practical drivers behind these changes is how drones capture images and video:
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A drone equipped with a camera that weighs 100 g or more now triggers both Flyer ID and Operator ID obligations — replacing the previous reliance on 250 g as the compliance trigger.
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Even if you already own a small sub-250 g platform, operational compliance (ID and potential Remote ID later) must be verified before using it for commercial image capture.
This affects not just aerial filming and surveying, but any data capture use case from construction to insurance to media production.
5. Operational Readiness & Compliance Checklist
For businesses planning to use drones in 2026 and beyond, these regulatory changes mean:
✅ Ensure all pilots have a valid Flyer ID before flying any drone ≥ 100 g.
✅ Register your organisation and assign Operator IDs to all aircraft requiring them.
✅ Check each aircraft’s class marking and align operational planning with its category.
✅ Equip and activate Remote ID where required by date and class.
✅ Track transitional windows for legacy equipment (notably Remote ID extension to 2028) to plan upgrades or replacements.
Final Thought
This regulatory update represents one of the most significant shifts in UK drone law in years — moving to greater transparency, safety, and oversight. For businesses, that means an urgent need to review policies, training programmes, fleet configurations, and compliance records.
Staying ahead isn’t just good practice — it’s now legally essential.
More details can be found on the CAA website.
EHS Management Consultancy specialises in legal compliance, to ensure you know what your environment, health and safety obligations are. Give us a call to discuss how we can help.
