Why do the course?

For me, it's about my photography first and then videography. The new CAA regulations are now more about flying away from uninvolved people than structures or buildings and the A2 certificate I’ve done allows me with my Mavic Pro 2 to fly upto 50m closer to people than before, which was 150m. With that said I don’t want people in my images so my landscape photography work based around sunrise using this certificate in a built-up area, allows me to fly around places like the docks of Bristol that is an amazing place to photograph just from the land, but has got to be even better from the air, surely?

Council - Bylaws - Permissions

To be clear, the A1 flights can only be conducted with drones with a MTOM of less than 250g. Flight overhead people (but not open-air assemblies) are allowed. But there is a transitional period on this where new craft will come under C0 and C1.

A2 allows for flights with a horizontal distance of 50m from uninvolved people and when transitional period comes into effect C2 will be able to fly 30m closer.

This all meant to happen in 2022 and if no class drones are available, then they return to the 150m rule for A2 class.

If there are clear bylaws that do not allow the takeoff or landing, this affects all drones, and some cities have or are looking to ban all drone flights. This in my view is a mistake as TV production companies and media use drones a lot these days and these cities are cutting themselves out of the marketplace.

With councils you can get permission to fly, and this is where my story begins.

Bristol City

I’ve lived here for more than 30 years now and have seen the dock’s area change so much with the new generation of the docks with businesses and accommodations, plus more boats moored in the docks because of this. 

Many years ago the docks was used for speedboat racing and brought a lot of business to the city, but was fazed out due to a number of accidents and some deaths. But now it has the harbour festival and a lot more activities.

Bristol also has been used for a number of drama productions, and this includes the use of drones in filming, so Bristol film department is used to drone permits being given out.

I’ve photographed around the docks for many years with a normal camera and then taking up the drone, it’s added a new dimension to my photography. So the new regulations that have come in has made this an exciting thing to maybe be able to fly and photograph the docks from above. 

Bristol Film Department

The film department oversees the permits of filming in the city and includes the use of drones, but only dealing with Commercial pilots or production companies, as mentioned above, which use drone pilots and for the most part ask for large amounts of public liability insurance at 5 million to start with.

So when the new regulations came out, I contacted them to ask about the A2 certificate and could I fly? At first they were unsure of the certificate and needed to have meetings to look at this and get back to me. We had emails back and forwards for a few months and phone conversations as well. After many meetings with different departments like the harbour master etc, they came back and gave me a flight to see how this would pan out and agreed to public liability insurance of 1 million as the risks are lower, and would of been unfair on me to ask for higher liability for what I’m doing,

I had to supply locations of takeoff and landing as well as a risk assessment for each flight, but for those that are commercial pilots would be doing the same in most cases. For me to do this outway the benefits and something you learn to do in the course.

As a mention, the company that I went with to do the A2 course was AV8 Flight School. All these courses are online and you do it at your own pace and the final exam is also online and you get your results automatically and can retake the test if needed for free as many times as it takes. 

What made this possible is that my flights would be to capture the sunrise, which can start from 5am mid year to 6am winter time. It's important to understand that at these times, most if not all people would still be tucked up in bed and this is the main reason for allowing me to fly. Any other time would not be appropriate or safe to fly and guarantee I could stay 50m away from people. 

Possibilities For Other’s

This is just a test run and more talks I need to have with the department, but hopefully this will open up opportunities to other photographers that use drones to be able to do the same thing as I have done.

Drones are here to stay, and councils and the public need to see and understand that we are not looking to spy on them or be a nuisance, we are doing this for a purpose, to capture the places we visit and share with the world that in effect helps promote places and so feeds into the tourist industry and help bring growth and money to places like Bristol.

Not For Everyone

Lots of photographers are trying out drones, like the DJI MINI 2 as an affordable way into drones, but like all things cameras we start off and then invest in better gear, same can be said for drone pilots that want more from their drones.

The idea of spending nearly £2,000 on the drones with extras, doing a course for the A2, getting insurance and being under regulations, might be not for everyone, but those that are now looking into it, now know there is more they can do. Bristol is one city that has listened to a photographer who flies drones and is starting to embrace it for now.

If and when the new C class drones come out and allow you to fly closer to uninvolved people, it might change what I can do. The words ‘uninvolved people’ is a bit open in my view. Is it a single person, group of people and if so what is the maximum number before it becomes that? There still might be more changes to the regulations, which are set out by the CAA that we have to follow, till then we do what we can within the regulations as they stand.

I hope my images and videos inspire others to look into this more, and I hope to fly more in the dock’s of Bristol as it has so much more to be covered from above. 

Introduction video and my first flight.

A glimpse of setting up for safety and to fit in with all the needs of the Council and the first flight, enjoy.