Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

SECTION VII U.K. Unmanned aircraft

Article 55 U.K. Essential requirements for unmanned aircraft

The design, production, maintenance and operation of aircraft referred to in point (a) and (b) of Article 2(1), where it concerns unmanned aircraft, and their engines, propellers, parts, non-installed equipment and equipment to control them remotely, as well as the personnel, including remote pilots, and organisations involved in those activities, shall comply with the essential requirements set out in Annex IX, and, where [F1 regulations made under] Article 58 and [F2 regulations made under] Article 57 so provide, with the essential requirements set out in Annexes II, IV and V.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Art. 55 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 131(a) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F2 Words in Art. 55 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 131(b) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 56 U.K. Compliance of unmanned aircraft

1. Taking into account the objectives and the principles set out in Articles 1 and 4, and in particular the nature and risk of the activity concerned, the operational characteristics of the unmanned aircraft concerned and the characteristics of area of operation, a certificate may be required for the design, production, maintenance and operation of unmanned aircraft and their engines, propellers, parts, non-installed equipment and equipment to control them remotely, as well as for the personnel, including remote pilots, and organisations involved in those activities, in accordance with [F3 regulations made under] Article 58 and [F4 regulations made under] Article 57.

2. The certificate referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be issued upon application, when the applicant has demonstrated that it complies with [F5 regulations made under] Article 58 and [F6 regulations made under] Article 57.

3. The certificate referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall specify the safety-related limitations, operating conditions and privileges. The certificate may be amended to add or remove limitations, conditions and privileges, in accordance with [F7 regulations made under] Article 58 and [F8 regulations made under] Article 57.

4. The certificate referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article may be limited, suspended or revoked when the holder no longer complies with the conditions, rules and procedures for issuing or maintaining such certificate, in accordance with [F9 regulations made under] Article 58 and [F10 regulations made under] Article 57.

5. Taking into account the objectives and the principles set out in Articles 1 and 4, and in particular the nature and risk of the activity concerned, the operational characteristics of the unmanned aircraft concerned and the characteristics of area of operation, [F11 regulations made under] Article 58 and [F12 regulations made under] Article 57 may require in respect of the design, production, maintenance and operation of unmanned aircraft and their engines, propellers, parts, non-installed equipment and equipment to control them remotely, as well as of the personnel, including remote pilots, and organisations involved in those activities, a declaration confirming compliance with those [F13 regulations].

6. Where the objectives and the principles set out in Articles 1 and 4 can be achieved without the application of Chapters IV and V of this Regulation, [F14 regulations made under] point (c) of Article 58(1) might provide that those Chapters shall apply neither to the essential requirements referred to in Article 55 nor to the corresponding detailed rules established in accordance with Article 58. F15 ...

7. [F16 The CAA] shall ensure that information about registration of unmanned aircraft and of operators of unmanned aircraft that are subject to a registration requirement in accordance with [F17 regulations made under] Article 57 and point 4 of Annex IX is stored in [F18 a digital national registration system]. F19 ...

8. This Section shall be without prejudice to the possibility for [F20 the Secretary of State] to lay down [F21 regulations] to make subject to certain conditions the operations of unmanned aircraft for reasons falling outside the scope of this Regulation, including public security or protection of privacy and personal data F22 ....

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in Art. 56(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(2)(a) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F4 Words in Art. 56(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(2)(b) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F5 Words in Art. 56(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(3)(a) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F6 Words in Art. 56(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(3)(b) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F7 Words in Art. 56(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(4)(a) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F8 Words in Art. 56(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(4)(b) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F9 Words in Art. 56(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(5)(a) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F10 Words in Art. 56(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(5)(b) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F11 Words in Art. 56(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(6)(a) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F12 Words in Art. 56(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(6)(b) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F13 Word in Art. 56(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(6)(c) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F14 Words in Art. 56(6) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(7)(a) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F15 Words in Art. 56(6) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(7)(b) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F16 Words in Art. 56(7) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(8)(a)(i) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F17 Words in Art. 56(7) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(8)(a)(ii) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F18 Words in Art. 56(7) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(8)(a)(iii) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F19 Words in Art. 56(7) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(8)(b) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F20 Words in Art. 56(8) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(9)(a) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F21 Word in Art. 56(8) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(9)(b) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F22 Words in Art. 56(8) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 132(9)(c) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 57 U.K. [F23 Regulations] as regards unmanned aircraft

In order to ensure F24 ... compliance with the essential requirements referred to in Article 55, for the operation of aircraft referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 2(1), where it concerns unmanned aircraft, as well as for personnel, including remote pilots, and organisations involved in those activities, and on the basis of the principles set out in Article 4 and with a view to achieving the objectives set out in Article 1, [F25 the Secretary of State may make regulations] laying down detailed provisions concerning:

(a)

the specific rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft as well as for the personnel, including remote pilots, and organisations involved in those operations;

(b)

the rules and procedures for issuing, maintaining, amending, limiting, suspending, or revoking the certificates, or for making declarations, for the operation of unmanned aircraft as well as for personnel, including remote pilots, and organisations involved in those activities, and for the situations in which such certificates or declarations are to be required; the rules and procedures for issuing those certificates and for making those declarations may be based on, or consist of, the detailed requirements referred to in Sections I, II and III;

(c)

the privileges and responsibilities of the holders of certificates and of natural and legal persons making declarations;

(d)

the rules and procedures for the registration and marking of unmanned aircraft and for the registration of operators of unmanned aircraft, referred to in Section 4 of Annex IX;

(e)

the rules and procedures for establishing [F26 a digital national registration system] referred to in Article 56(7);

(f)

the rules and procedures for the conversion of national certificates into the certificates required under Article 56(1).

F27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F23 Word in Art. 57 heading substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 133(2) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F24 Words in Art. 57 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 133(3)(a) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F25 Words in Art. 57 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 133(3)(b) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F26 Words in Art. 57(e) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 133(3)(c) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F27 Words in Art. 57 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 133(4) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Article 58 U.K. Delegated powers

1. For the design, production and maintenance of aircraft referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 2(1), where it concerns unmanned aircraft, and their engines, propellers, parts, non-installed equipment and equipment to control the aircraft remotely, as well as for the personnel, including remote pilots, and organisations involved in those activities, [F28 the Secretary of State may make regulations] laying down detailed rules with regard to:

(a) the specific conditions for the design, production and maintenance of unmanned aircraft and their engines, propellers, parts, non-installed equipment and equipment to control the aircraft remotely, as well as for personnel, including remote pilots, and organisations involved in those activities, necessary to ensure compliance with the essential requirements referred to in Article 55 which may include the conditions under which unmanned aircraft are required to be equipped with necessary features and functionalities related, in particular, to maximum operating distance and altitude limitations, position communication, geographical zones entry restriction, collision avoidance, flight stabilisation and automated landing;

(b) the conditions and procedures for issuing, maintaining, amending, limiting, suspending, or revoking the certificates, or for making declarations, for the design, production and maintenance of unmanned aircraft, their engines, propellers, parts, non-installed equipment and equipment to control them remotely, as well as for the personnel, including remote pilots, and organisations involved in those activities, referred to in Article 56(1) and (5), and for the situations in which such certificates or declarations are to be required; the conditions and procedures for issuing those certificates and for making those declarations may be based on, or consist of, the detailed requirements referred to in Sections I, II and III;

(c) the conditions under which the requirements concerning the design, production and maintenance of unmanned aircraft and their engines, propellers, parts, non-installed equipment and equipment to control them remotely, are not to be subject to Chapters IV and V, for the purpose of Article 56(6);

(d) the privileges and responsibilities of the holders of certificates and of natural and legal persons making declarations;

(e) the conditions for the conversion of national certificates into the certificates required under Article 56(1).

2. As regards the design, production, maintenance and operation of aircraft referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 2(1), where it concerns unmanned aircraft, and their engines, propellers, parts, non-installed equipment and equipment to control the aircraft remotely, as well as the personnel, including remote pilots, and organisations involved in those activities, [F29 the Secretary of State may make regulations] to amend Annex IX and, if applicable, Annex III, where necessary for reasons of technical, operational or scientific developments or safety evidence related to air operations, in order and to the extent required to achieve the objectives set out in Article 1.

Textual Amendments

F28 Words in Art. 58(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 134(2) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F29 Words in Art. 58(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 134(3) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)