As I understand the regulations, an
unlicensed operator cannot accept payment for taking aerial shots or film. What the recipients of the aerial shots do with the finished product has nothing to do with the operator.
Here is a summary of UK CAA rulings :-
Provided the aircraft has a mass of 20 kg or less, the current regulations state:-
1. The operation must not endanger anyone or anything.
2. The aircraft must be kept within the visual line of sight (normally taken to be within 500 m horizontally and 400 ft vertically) of its remote pilot (i.e. the ‘person in charge’ of it). Operations beyond these distances must be approved by the CAA (the basic premise being for the operator to prove that he/she can do this safely).
3. Small unmanned aircraft (irrespective of their mass) that are being used for surveillance purposes are subject to tighter restrictions with regard to the minimum distances that you can fly near people or properties that are not under your control. If you wish to fly within these minima, permission is required from the CAA before operations are commenced.
4. CAA permission is also required for all flights that are being conducted for aerial work (i.e. in very simple terms, you are getting paid for doing it). Under current CAA rules it is not permissible to operate a Quadcopter for 'hire or reward' unless you are a commercial operator. If you want to take a video of your house and put it on U-tube, that’s fine, and if something happens near you that you think is newsworthy and you think it will be 'cool' to rush out and get some aerial shots to send to the BBC and expect payment you will be out of luck.
As well as the above,
Careful note should be taken that the collection of images of identifiable individuals, even inadvertently, when using surveillance cameras mounted on a small unmanned surveillance aircraft, will be subject to the Data Protection Act. As this Act contains requirements concerning the collection, storage and use of such images, Small Unmanned Aircraft operators should ensure that they are complying with any such applicable requirements or exemptions.
Further information about the Data Protection Act and the circumstances in which it applies can be obtained from the Information Commissioner’s Office and website:
http://www.ico.org.uk
Just so you know. Its nice to know where the mines are BEFORE you walk into the minefield.
Good luck.
