Commercial Drone Event Permit UK 2026

What Is an Assembly of People?

The CAA considers an assembly of people to be any group where individuals are so densely packed that they cannot easily move away from a drone. This includes concerts, festivals, sporting events, outdoor markets, parades, and public celebrations. The threshold is generally understood to be gatherings where the density of people prevents free movement.

This distinction is important because Open Category rules treat assemblies of people differently from scattered individuals. Even sub-250g drones in the A1 subcategory — which may fly over uninvolved persons — are prohibited from flying over assemblies of people.

If your client wants aerial footage of their music festival, village fete, or corporate outdoor event, you need to determine whether the crowd constitutes an assembly. When in doubt, treat it as one and obtain the appropriate permission.

Permission Routes for Event Flying

There are three main routes to obtaining lawful permission for drone operations at events:

1. GVC with Operational Authorisation

If you hold a General VLOS Certificate and an active Operational Authorisation from the CAA, your OA may already cover operations near (but not directly over) assemblies of people. Check the specific conditions of your OA. Many standard OAs permit operations in the vicinity of events, provided you maintain specified horizontal distances from the crowd.

2. Article 16 Exemption

For flights directly over assemblies of people — such as capturing overhead shots of a crowd — you will need to apply for an Article 16 exemption from the CAA. This requires demonstrating that equivalent safety is achieved through alternative mitigations. Common mitigations include parachute recovery systems, tethered operations (the drone is physically attached to a ground anchor), lightweight airframes, and restricted flight paths.

3. Specific Category Authorisation

For complex or recurring event operations, applying for a Specific Category authorisation through a SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) may be more appropriate than repeated Article 16 applications. This is typically pursued by operators who regularly work at events and need a standing permission rather than one-off exemptions.

Event Organiser Coordination

Regardless of which permission route you use, coordination with the event organiser is essential. You should agree in writing on:

• Operating times — when you will fly and for how long, including setup and pack-down windows
• Flight paths — predetermined routes that avoid the densest crowd areas where possible
• Sterile zones — designated take-off and landing areas, cordoned off from event attendees
• Emergency procedures — what happens if the drone has a technical failure, including crowd evacuation protocols if needed
• Communication channels — direct radio or phone contact between the pilot, observer(s), and event safety officer

Many event organisers will also require evidence of your qualifications and commercial drone insurance. Public liability cover of at least EC785/2004 minimum is essential; some events may require higher limits.

Safety Assessment Requirements

A site-specific safety assessment must be completed before any event operation. This should cover:

• Ground risk — crowd density maps, identify areas with children or vulnerable persons, emergency vehicle access routes
• Air risk — proximity to airports, heliports (many events use helicopter landing sites), NOTAMs for the area, and any temporary airspace restrictions issued for the event
• Equipment suitability — is your drone appropriate for the task? Lighter aircraft pose less risk in the event of a failure. Consider propeller guards for operations near people
• Weather limitations — set wind speed and visibility thresholds in advance. Events rarely reschedule for weather, so have clear go/no-go criteria that you will enforce regardless of client pressure
• Contingency planning — alternative flight plans if conditions change, designated emergency landing zones away from crowds

Document everything. Your safety assessment should be available on site and referenced in your operations manual.

Common Event Applications

Commercial drone work at events typically falls into these categories:

• Aerial photography and videography — weddings, festivals, corporate events, and sporting competitions
• Live broadcasting — streaming aerial views for broadcast or social media coverage
• Event security — crowd monitoring and perimeter surveillance for large-scale events
• Marketing and promotion — capturing footage for event marketing materials and venue showcases

Each type of work may require different mitigations in your safety assessment. Filming a wedding with 80 guests is a very different risk profile from broadcasting a music festival with 10,000 attendees. Scale your preparations accordingly and ensure you have the right level of commercial qualification for the complexity of the job.