DRONE WEIGHT
Weight classes, UK/EU regulations, categories
UK / EU WEIGHT CATEGORIES (2024)
| CATEGORY | MAX MTOM | REQUIREMENTS | WHERE YOU CAN FLY |
|---|---|---|---|
| C0 / Sub-250g | 250g | No registration if no camera, or toy drone. Registration if camera equipped. | Most areas. Avoid airports, crowds, aerodromes. |
| C1 | 900g | Operator registration. Flyer ID. Online training. | A1 ops — near but not over people. 50m from uninvolved persons. |
| C2 | 4kg | Operator + Flyer ID. A2 CofC required for close approach. | A2 ops — min 30m from people (can reduce to 5m with A2 CofC). |
| C3 | 25kg | Operator + Flyer ID. A2 CofC. Risk assessment often needed. | A3 ops only — 150m from residential/commercial/industrial areas. |
OPERATIONAL CATEGORIES
OPEN — A1
C0/C1 drones. Fly over people but not assemblies. Stay within VLOS. Max 120m AGL. No authorisation needed.
OPEN — A2
C2 drones. Keep 30m horizontal from uninvolved people (5m with A2 CofC). No authorisation needed.
OPEN — A3
C3 drones. Fly away from people. 150m from residential areas. No authorisation. Self-built drones often here.
VLOS = Visual Line of Sight. Max altitude 120m AGL (above ground level) in all Open categories. FPV flying counts as VLOS only with a spotter maintaining visual contact.
SUB-250g BUILD TIPS
| COMPONENT | WEIGHT TARGET | TIPS |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | <40g | 3" or 3.5" carbon. Avoid heavy aluminium standoffs. |
| Motors x4 | <40g total | 1404 or 1506 motors. Approx 8–12g each. |
| FC/ESC stack | <15g | AIO board preferred. Saves weight over separate stack. |
| Camera + VTX | <15g | Micro camera (eg. Runcam Nano). Use VTX with integrated OSD. |
| Battery | <100g | 3S 650mAh li-ion (eg. 18350). Li-ion much lighter than LiPo. |
| RX | <5g | ELRS Nano or EP1 receiver. Under 1g available. |