From 1st December, users must have two registrations in place before flying a drone or model aircraft that weighs 250g to 20kg.
Anyone who will fly a drone must pass a theory test to get a flyer ID, and the person that’s responsible for the drone or model aircraft must register to get an operator ID. Failure to register leaves users at risk of penalties up to £1,000.
The new registration scheme has enabled the CAA to also launch Drones Reunited, a new service to reunite owners with their lost drones.
Research from the CAA suggests that a quarter of owners have lost a drone at some point – largely due to malfunctions in flight caused by losing battery power, loss of signal or technology failures.
CAA spokesman Jonathan Nicholson commented, "Our aim is for the Drones Reunited platform to become an essential service for the drone community - the first port of call for anyone who has lost, or found, a drone."
The CAA has said Drones Reunited will be free service as part of the drone registration scheme as each device will be issued with a unique identification code.
