Concern after 80% surge in drone permits

There has been an 80 per cent rise in the number of organisations with official permits to use drones in UK skies, just since the start of 2014.

The 359 operators approved by the Civil Aviation Authority - which are for small' drones weighing 20 kilos or less and used for work purposes - include some survey companies and estate agencies but it is thought many other agents use the devices, along with what is estimated to be many thousands of members of the general public who also operate drones without formal consent.

Now the British Airline Pilots' Association is warning that drones will become more numerous, larger, heavier and more difficult to operate.

BALPA general secretary Jim McAuslan says: Even a small RPAS [Remotely Piloted Aircraft System] could cause serious injury, or even death, if control of it is lost. It is not just the weight of the device that could cause injury - imagine being hit on the head by a frozen chicken dropped from fifty feet - but they are, of course, equipped with numerous spinning blades. The option of mandating insurance for both commercial and non-commercial RPAS operations should be considered.

The CAA has made two successful prosecutions for illegal drone flights so far in 2014 and is reported to be considering a couple of other potential prosecutions.

It is prohibited to fly remotely piloted vehicles over large gatherings of people of 1,000 or more at any height, or within 50 metres of a building or structure.