The objective of the regulation is to establish “minimum insurance requirements” for air carriers and operators in respect of passenger, baggage, cargo and third parties.

If you take a quick look at the regulations you might pause at Article 2. Scope “Model aircraft with an MTOM of less than 20 kg’ is exempt from the regulation. (MTOM meaning maximum take-off mass).” and draw the conclusion that it doesn’t apply to you.

The key, though, is the use of the word “Model” and this has been interpreted by the aviation authorities to mean “for sport or recreational use only”. By definition, therefore, any drone that is being used for commercial purposes needs to comply where “commercial” has been defined as “an operation for remuneration and/or hire”

Therefore, all commercial operators need to obtain aviation insurance before starting to conduct commercial services.

However, if your drone weighs less than 20kg and you ONLY fly it for recreational purposes, then you are not obliged to be insured.   Although if you take your Drone abroad on holiday, you really need to check the legislation in the country of your planned destination, because different aviation authorities in different countries may have separate rules or laws covering recreational drone use and insurance.

Remember, if you are an uninsured hobbyist pilot and something goes awry whilst you are flying your drone, you are personally and financially responsible for anything that goes wrong.

How Much Insurance Do You need?

The minimum insurance a drone operator requires, is 3rd party insurance.  Amounts of cover can be agreed with the Insurance company.

What Type Of Insurance Should You Have?

Your insurance needs to cover you and your drone for death, personal injury and damage to property caused by accidents which, for drone operators, translates into cover for Public and Aviation Liability

Insurance companies each have their own requirements before agreeing to insure a client.  Some Insurance companies may not insure you unless you have received appropriate training from a CAA approved RAE (Recognised Assessment  Entity) such as 3iC.

What Happens if you are Uninsured?

Any drone pilot not complying with EC785/2004 Regulations could lose all of their permissions to fly within the UK and European Union

If you visit our “Insurance” page you will find links to insurance companies that have been recommended by some of our clients and if you have any questions about drone training, please don’t hesitate to email or call 01980 881438 for further details on appropriate training courses.

The post What is EC785/2004 and is it relevant to me? first appeared on 3iC Ltd.

The most popular “consumer” drones typically use 4 motors and propellers (quadcopter) to generate lift and movement. Larger commercial drones use 6 (hexacopter), 8 (octocopter) or more.

One of the most common problems when flying Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), other than pilot error, is motor failure, or even propeller loss. Obviously, in either scenario there’s the danger of damage to your drone (uncontrolled landing) as well as danger to property or injuries to innocent bystanders should you lose control of your drone due to motor failure or propeller loss.

A lot of the larger drones have software that can compensate for the loss of one motor or propeller, being able to balance the loss of lift with the remaining engines, very much like a large airliner losing 1 of 4 engines. However, the loss of lift from one of 4 motors/propellers on a smaller drone (losing 25% of lift) presents a far greater challenge and can easily lead to the loss of your expensive drone.

There’s little that can be done to prevent motor failure, other than taking good care of your Drone and carrying out any recommended, regular, maintenance. However, there are steps that can be taken to minimise the loss of a propeller. To this end, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a list of recommendations to reduce the likelihood of propeller detachment for UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) in the Open and Specific categories

1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for removing/installing propellers.
2. Check the condition of all propellers before each flight to ensure they are all in good condition.
3. Do not use aged, chipped, or broken propellers.
4. Check the hub/root and propeller attachment points as well as the surface and edges.
5. Only use original or manufacturer approved parts.
6. Do not mix propeller types. When different types of propellers are approved for use, all propellers fitted must be the same type
7. Consider adding cross-checks to your pre-flight procedures to double-check installation, especially where the propellers are regularly removed/attached for transportation

And remember, it’s possible that should you have an accident, and had not followed the guidelines, any insurance claims could be refused.

The post Dealing with a lost Rotor or Motor first appeared on 3iC Ltd.