UK CAA drone Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) or 'No-fly Zone' checker

Why it's a good idea to check if your planned drone flight is in a Flight Restriction Zone

You've prep'd your drone, planned the perfect aerial shots, and triple-checked that your SD cards are in the bag. But before you head out, there's one crucial step that could save you a whole lot of aggravation – checking for Flight Restriction Zones (FRZs).

Think of FRZs as the 'no-fly' zones of the drone world. They're often hovering over sensitive areas like airports, military bases, danger areas and so on.

Following new legislation, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has recently tightened the screws by implementing FRZs around all prisons and young offender units in the UK. Why? Well, let's just say, a drone might be a helpful option if someone perhaps wanted to deliver some 'unofficial' merchandise to a friend being detained at his majesty's pleasure and they maybe didn't want to go through all the kerfuffle of arranging a proper visit.

Here's some good reasons to check for FRZs:

• Safety first: Imagine your drone innocently buzzing along, only to collide with a helicopter in an FRZ. Not cool. Checking for restrictions keeps you, your drone, and others safe in the sky.
• Legal risk: Fly your drone in an FRZ and you're likely to be breaking the law. Pleading ignorance isn't going to be a valid defence and you could, for example, end up with a fine of up to £2,500 if you fly within a prison FRZ.
• Responsible flying: It's all about being a good drone citizen. Checking for FRZs shows you respect the rules and airspace, making you a responsible pilot and earning you brownie points with fellow drone enthusiasts (and the CAA!).

How to check for an FRZ

Checking for FRZs isn't rocket science. Here's how to do it like a pro:

• Use this page: This search is designed to give you a quick heads-up whether or not your flight location is in a FRZ.
• Check the official FRZ source: Head to the CAA's official map and check out all FRZs.
• Get an app: Download Altitude Angel's Drone Assist app. It's your one-stop shop for all things FRZs, showing you restricted zones in real-time on a map.
• Go pro with Dronedesk: As a responsible and professional drone user, you will know that FRZs are not the only thing you should be checking! You also need to check for active NOTAMs, weather, SSSI and RSPB areas, other airspace users, and more. When you plan a job in Dronedesk, the system pulls in all of that data for you in an instant, ensuring you have all the information you need to plan a safe, legal and compliant drone flight.