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Exciting Drone Rule Changes in 2026 – Fly Closer, Capture More & Grab Our FREE Printable Guide!
- UKSN
- Dec 29, 2025
- 3 min read
If you love flying drones while out on your UKSN adventures, 2026 is bringing some seriously exciting news. The rules are changing in a way that lets you fly closer to people and buildings safely, opening up new opportunities for filming, scouting, and just having fun.
Flying Small Drones Over People Just Got Easier
Currently, the A1 Open category lets you fly small drones over people, but not crowds - in gardens, parks, and other everyday spaces. Until now, this mainly applied to drones under 250 g. From 1 January 2026, it will also include C1 (UK1) drones weighing up to 900 g.
What’s really exciting? The old rule that forced C1 drones to stay 50 m away from people and buildings is gone. Instead, pilots follow a risk-based approach, meaning you can fly closer, as long as you’re careful and avoid crowds. This rule change will apply until 31 December 2027, giving you plenty of time to explore new ways to fly safely.
What This Means for UKSN Members
For our adventurous community, this is great news:
In residential areas: Capture backyards, gardens, or campsite setups in ways that were tricky before.
In commercial or industrial areas: Inspect or film buildings with more flexibility while staying safe.
On recreational adventures: Hike, camp, or run events and get aerial shots that really show the action.
The golden rule: you still cannot fly over crowds, emergency sites, or restricted airspace. And while landowners can’t control the airspace, always respect privacy and stay safe.
Drones for Preppers – A Bird’s-Eye Advantage
Drones aren’t just for stunning aerial shots - they can be a powerful tool for preppers and self-sufficiency enthusiasts. UKSN members use drones for a whole host of prepping tasks including
Scouting and surveillance: Check your property, campsite, or allotment from above to spot hazards, fences that need repairing, or potential access points without physically walking the area.
Mapping and planning: Create quick aerial maps of fields, gardens, or woodland areas to plan crops, shelter setups, and so much more
Supplies and logistics: Keep an eye on delivery or storage areas, especially if you have outdoor storage units or caches.
Safety checks: Monitor water sources, fences, or livestock without disturbing the environment.
Community support: In a UKSN Charter, drones can help survey areas during events or exercises, giving leaders a safe overview of activity and terrain.
Safety Comes First
Even with these exciting changes, flying responsibly is the key to keeping everyone safe. UKSN recommends completing a simple risk assessment before every flight. This ensures you know your drone’s capabilities, any hazards nearby, and how to keep your flight smooth and legal.
Takeoff Thoughts
2026 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for drone enthusiasts. Flying closer, filming more, and exploring safely has never been easier. With UKSN printable resources and a little preparation, your drones can be part of more adventures than ever.
So get ready, pack your drone in your adventure kit, and enjoy seeing the world from above - safely, responsibly, and in true UKSN style.
FREE 2026 UKSN A1 Drone Printable Guide
To make flying stress-free, we’ve created some handy resources for C0 and C1 pilots that we have compiled into a single PDF. These include:
Drone Rules Printable & Drone Card: Show anyone who questions your flight exactly what the rules say.
Risk Assessment Form: Plan your flights safely every time.
These resources are perfect for beginners and experienced pilots alike, helping you fly confidently while following the rules
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