Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has confirmed a new partnership with Altitude Angel, the developers of the popular Drone Assist app, aimed at improving the management of drone operations at its properties.
The contract, signed on July 10, 2024, will officially take effect on October 1, 2024. This agreement is expected to enhance how drone activities, particularly take-offs and landings, are coordinated at Properties in Care (PICs) across Scotland.
While the exact details of the contract have not been confirmed, it is widely believed that Altitude Angel will likely leverage its Approval Services platform as part of the partnership. This platform would allow drone operators to digitally request permission to take off and land on HES properties, streamlining what has traditionally been a time-consuming process.
This system is designed to facilitate communication between drone operators and landowners, helping ensure that drone flights are conducted safely and in line with preservation efforts.
Take-Off and Landing vs. Airspace Control
Despite HES’s ability to manage drone operations on the ground, it’s important to emphasise that HES does not control the airspace above its properties. Airspace regulation in the UK is overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
This means that while HES can regulate where drones take off and land, it cannot enforce restrictions on flying over its sites. This was confirmed by the CAA, which stated:
“The UK Civil Aviation Authority only recognises ‘No Fly Zones’ that have been set up through the official UK national air navigation system as an official airspace restriction Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).
The Civil Aviation Authority has no remit in the adoption or enforcement of any bylaws that may be in-force by local authorities and certain other bodies so we would always encourage an operator to check prior to flying. In relation to bylaws, airspace remains a state asset and bylaws restricting certain RPAS activity are in relation to activity undertaken whilst on the ground only. As always, we encourage all RPAS operators to follow the Drone Code.”
The CAA encourages drone operators to follow the Drone Code and check for any ground-based restrictions imposed by landowners before flying, while also mentioning that airspace remains a state asset and is not subject to local bylaws regarding airspace control.
Addressing the previous ‘No Drone Zone’ confusion
This partnership follows confusion earlier in 2024, when a Drone Assist update mistakenly designated several Historic Environment Scotland properties as ‘No Drone Zones’. This incorrect classification implied that drone flights were legally restricted in these areas, causing concern among drone operators.
The misunderstanding arose because the zones were highlighted in red, a colour that typically indicates legally enforceable restrictions, leading many users to believe they were prohibited from flying over HES-managed sites.
Altitude Angel quickly addressed the issue, removing the erroneous data from the app and issuing an apology. They explained that the error was due to a premature release of the data without the necessary landowner information being fully integrated.
The company reassured drone operators that the No Drone Zone classification was applied mistakenly and did not reflect any legally binding restrictions. In a public statement, Altitude Angel reiterated their commitment to enabling safe drone operations and clarified that their platform’s purpose is not to restrict drone use unless mandated by law.
“We apologise for any confusion caused by the initial release of this data. The “No Drone Zone” classification was applied in error due to a lack of an assigned landowner profile for this data layer, as it was released earlier than planned in our system.
We want to emphasise that this was an unintended setting and does not accurately reflect the intended use of this data. Our goal is never to close down or restrict any drone operations. The intended future use of this data is to enable a greatly improved solution to professionally facilitate TOAL requests to landowner sites.
Our goal at Altitude Angel will always be to enable drone operations and to provide accurate and up-to-date information for lower airspace operations. It is not our ambition today or in the future to allow any landowner to implement a No Drone Zone. The issue has been resolved, and the data removed from the system. “
Although the details of the contract have yet to be publicly disclosed, it is widely speculated that Altitude Angel will utilise its Approval Services platform to simplify the process for drone operators seeking to take off and land at HES properties. Through this platform, pilots would be able to request access to specific sites digitally, most likely via the Drone Assist app or DroneSafetyMap.com, offering a much faster and more efficient method than traditional approval processes.
If implemented, this system would be particularly beneficial for coordinating drone flights at Properties in Care, balancing the needs of drone operators with HES’s commitment to preserving and protecting Scotland’s historic landmarks.
If the Approval Services platform is part of the final implementation, it will represent a significant step forward in coordinating drone operations on the ground, making it easier for drone operators to gain the permissions they need for take-offs and landings. At the same time, HES will be able to more effectively manage drone activities, ensuring that Scotland’s historic properties are protected from potential harm.
As of October 2024, drone operators can expect smoother processes for flying near HES-managed sites, knowing that both their operations and the preservation of these historic landmarks are being carefully considered.
