I don’t think that personal slights like that are very helpful. Please keep things civil and constructive.
1 Like
Well here’s an Instagram post about the new drone training.
2 Likes
Good, but we need to get a shift on with rolling this out. The Army regulars are using simple racing drones and tools like Velocidrone to train the troops. QRH were demoing this at DSEI.
Appreciate that doesn’t give a civilian qualification, but we need a minimum viable product for mass roll out, now, not something exquisite in several years’ time.
1 Like
Yet we are still banned from flying them inside on squadrons because the process was never written.
Cool!
So is this just going to be an Air and Space camp thing then? As it certainly feels that way. We were in this similar situation for last years camp too I think!
I’ve been nosing around the drone industry a bit recently and there are some interesting developments around UK (or EU) manufactured parts.
Not whole systems as yet but hopefully it might make it easier for us to source ‘compliant’ kit.
I don’t know if the process can move from ‘you can only use these’ to ‘you can use one if it doesn’t contain x or y parts from z’ but hopefully it will.
(I wanted to move this to the Drones on Squadron thread but it won’t let me!)
The policy / guidance on Chinese connected vehicles certainly seems to work like that (e.g. a shortish list of banned vehicles rather than trying to list everything that isn’t Chinese).
1 Like
I saw a photo of a DJI drone being handed over to a unit from HQ last night so they appear to just be using DJI kit despite I thought it was on the banned list?
1 Like
Think I saw the same one this morning and had the same reaction
Off-topic I know, but there’s been some controversy over DJIs newest sub 250g drone. As it’s not actually sub 250g! Meaning, it’s illegal to use if you’re relying on the laws for sub 250g drones.
1 Like
If someone can move the drone not course posts to the other thread I’d be grateful. I don’t think I can!
1 Like
Hey everyone…
So if it is 2 FTS done then it can be used on certain defence estate. Privately owned ones cannot for reasons various.
I would love to know the difference!
1 Like
A bit of a quick update for everyone who may be interested.
There will be a RPAS Town Hall in November for all adult staff. We will talk about the entire project and more specifically the Blue and Bronze which will be available by then.
We will talk about the new RPAS Sqn structure and how people can get involved in that and how it will be supporting delivery of flying across the regions at approved training sites.
We are continuing to train adult volunteers to be instructors and coaches and we are investing heavily in drone training and instruction techniques courses (AET) for many. There is a course a month for the next few months. Applications should go through your RPAS Regional Lead or RAvnO.
We have also invested heavily in equipment and this is now being sent out to the regions (this may some of the drones you mentioned above). This will allow the regions to be in a position to support experiential flying and training.
The CAA approval has been exceptionally challenging as the shifting sands at Gatwick keep moving. This means our approval to deliver Silver and Gold levels has been pushed back a little but this won’t restrict us as we go into next year. This has been a long haul and exceptionally difficult for the small team to achieve whilst also ramping up to deliver flying in a safe and appropriate way.
But I am glad to say that we are getting there and the trial of Bronze at NASC was well received by all who did it and now we just need to get this to the squadrons by the end of this month. Happy days!!
Happy to be back, and I have been busy. If you can email your concerns and what I messed up, in terms of syllabus and or H&S, I would be happy to arrange to discuss this with you face to face.
Summary
1 Like
It is a light MAA touch, not RAFAC.
I am happy to explain the work that has been going on to anyone who want to hear it. We are working hard to make this easy and accessible for all, using equipment that is cost effective and can be used in a way that is safe and legal.
Has it taken too long, yes it has, but that is not the fault of the volunteer team that is leading on this project. This was never going to be as simple as buying a drone and going out and flying it. This is an air system and the CAA and MAA are increasingly treating it in the same way that they do an aircraft, especially when it is corporately managed.
My email is in this thread and I am happy to discuss the project and why it has taken so long to get to this point with anyone that will listen. I want to be flying our drones all across the UK and get every cadet the opportunity to so as often as we can. Inferring that we are dragging our heels on this, is just not true or fair to the team who are working flat out on this. Hence I haven’t been on here.
1 Like
It sounds like a crazy amount of work. Well done.
I’m excited to dial into that townhall idc and learn more about what you’ve been pulling together! 
2 Likes
The sub-250 exemptions are soon to disappear and become the sub-100g ones from 1 Jan 2026. The sub 100g ‘toy’ exemption will also be withdrawn.
This has caused a few problems in some urban areas as we look to what we can use for experiential flying. This is why DJI don’t care if the drone of over 250g.
2 Likes
Question as I’m curious.
Are the MAA & CAA in sync with rules or are there additional aspect that come from the MAA that adds to the cadet forces policy that might not apply to organisations such as the Air Scouts?
I heard this was DJIs logic! As well as new rounding error rules. But they are marked and advertised as a C0-class drone! Including C0 sticker. When they are not, per the rules. I just can’t belive the EASA gave them the C0 accreditation. But apparently the ones they got accredited on might have been 249g.
For the record in all of this, I do not blame any volunteers that are working on this project for the delays, nor other problems.