Please ‘drone responsibly’: Gatwick Airport issues important advice for local residents who give or receive drones as gifts this Christmas
- It is illegal to fly any drone within 5km of Gatwick Airport – this includes a number of local parks, event venues and residential properties
- Those who have a valid reason for flying a drone within the 5km restricted zone can apply for a permit via the Gatwick website
- Drone owners may need to register via the CAA website before flying
People giving or receiving drones as gifts this Christmas have been reminded to check the rules and restrictions for flying them near to Gatwick Airport, with GQ magazine listing drones among its top technology gadgets for Christmas.
Sussex Police deals with more than 200 reports per year of people flying drones within the 5km restricted flight zone surrounding the airport – an offence which can carry a prison sentence of up to five years if it results in endangering an aircraft.
The restricted zone includes areas such as Horley, Charlwood, Three Bridges, Ifield, West Green, Worth, Pound Hill, Manor Royal, Shipley Bridge, Southgate, Forge Wood, Burstow, Langshott, Norwood Hill, Copthorne and Hookwood.
Graham Alder, Head of Aerodrome, Gatwick Airport said: “Drones are great fun and can be fantastic bits of kit for a whole range of activities, and we want to help people enjoy their drones safely and responsibly.
“For obvious reasons there are a number of rules and restrictions around flying drones near airports.
“So, if you are giving a drone as a gift this Christmas, or if you receive one yourself, please check you know all the rules and restrictions before you start flying.”
Jonathan Nicholson, UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said: “We absolutely want people to enjoy using their drones but breaking the UK Dronecode and failing to fly responsibly could result in criminal prosecution, including imprisonment.
“Anyone operating a drone must do so responsibly and observe all relevant rules and regulations. The rules for flying drones are designed to keep everybody safe. Our Dronecode provides advice on how to fly your drone safely and follow the rules. You can see it at caa.co.uk/drones.”
All the key information for drone owners and operators is also available on the Gatwick Airport website.
Drone operators can apply to Gatwick for a special permit to fly within the 5km zone, should they have a valid reason to do so. This can be done via gatwickairport.com/drones.
Alongside the 5km restricted flight zone, Gatwick is also reminding drone owners that they may need to register themselves as an operator via the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Gatwick is the UK’s second largest airport and is a vital piece of national infrastructure that helps drive both the regional and national economy. More than 40 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 45 long-haul destinations. The airport is focused on rebuilding and growing sustainably in the long term. It has ambitious plans to be a net zero airport by 2030 and increase capacity by bringing its Northern runway into routine use. VINCI Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99% interest.
The world's leading private airport operator, VINCI Airports operates more than 65 airports in 12 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Thanks to its expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and manages airports by providing its investment capacity and its know-how in optimizing operational performance, modernizing infrastructures and managing their operations and environmental transition. VINCI Airports is the first airport operator to have committed to a global international environmental strategy in 2016, to achieve the goal of net zero emission across its entire network by 2050.
For more information :
GIP manages the remaining 49.99% interest in Gatwick and is a leading independent infrastructure fund manager that makes equity and debt investments in high quality infrastructure assets in the energy, transport, water/waste and digital infrastructure sectors. GIP manages US$84 billion for its investors. Its 46 portfolio companies have combined annual revenues of US$61 billion and employ nearly 100,000 employees. For more information on GIP please visit http://global-infra.com
