Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Policy

Statement on External Deposition of UAV (drone) Photography and Videography with the National Monuments Record of Wales

From February 2019 The Royal Commission’s archive, the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW), will only be able to accept imagery captured from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from persons holding a valid Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO).

Awarded by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), this certification ensures that certain requirements for the safe operation of UAVs in the UK have been met, namely that the pilot is suitably qualified to fly UAVs safely and responsibly, that the aircraft is airworthy and that there is appropriate third-party insurance in place to cover operations. The ability to demonstrate that aerial imagery has been captured safely and legally is paramount to ensuring the integrity of the NMRW and its collection. Aerial imagery captured dangerously and illegally is not suitable for storage in a national archive.

Trespass, privacy and airspace laws must be observed when capturing aerial imagery via UAV. PfCO holders can readily demonstrate that they understand how to operate a UAV and capture aerial imagery within the law through the relevant training and assessment. This ensures any aerial photographic operation has been undertaken safely and legally and therefore certifies that captured imagery is suitable for archiving.

Any submission of aerial imagery captured by UAV to the NMRW must be accompanied by all the following:

• A copy of an in-date CAA PfCO Certificate (valid at the time of imagery capture);
• Proof of landowner’s permission for the take-off and landing area used during an operation (valid at the time of imagery capture);
• Evidence of Public and Aviation Liability Insurance for the aircraft used (valid at the time of imagery capture);
• Evidence of written permission from the National Trust for UAV operation over any National Trust property;
• Evidence of written permission from Cadw for any UAV operation over its guardianship sites. Cadw do not allow drone flying from or over its guardianship sites, except by contractors commissioned for a specific purpose, who satisfy stringent CAA criteria, have the correct insurances and are operating under controlled conditions.

More information on operating UAVs safely in the UK can be found here: https://dronesafe.uk/drone-code/

UAV Exclusion zones in Wales can be found here: http://www.noflydrones.co.uk/

For more information on the use of UAVs and deposition of aerial imagery with the archive, please contact Daniel Hunt: daniel.hunt@rcahmw.gov.uk

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To download this document as a PDF, click here: RCAHMW UAV Policy

Mae’r polisi hwn hefyd ar gael yn y Gymraeg | This policy is also available in Welsh.

This document is available under the Open Government Licence.