With the good weather, it’s a good time to get my drone back in the air. I’ve had a DJI Mini 4 Pro for a few years now, a genuinely capable little machine that I’ll admit I still don’t fly to its full potential.
Before blowing the cobwebs off my thumb sticks, though, I had to get my head around the new drone regulations coming into force. Even before these changes, working out what applied to my drone and what I wanted to do with it was never straightforward. One thing I’m always conscious of is public liability insurance. I used to get mine directly from an insurer for £6 a month, but while researching the new rules I came across FPV UK, the UK’s drone association. For a modest annual fee I get the insurance, an Article 16 Operational Authorisation, and membership in a community that’s been a real help in understanding the rules, Article 16 included.
So, with a single battery charged, I headed to Porthcawl to fly safely and legally and see if I could still remember how to fly. I only had about 15 minutes to reacquaint myself with the controls. I’ve had this drone for a few years now, but it still amazes me how capable it is, and how good the footage can be if my flying can keep up.
It was good to get the drone out again, and it’s whetted my appetite to do more with it. And with FPV UK, I’m flying confident in what I can and cannot do, so the next trip into the skies won’t be far away.
