Drone Danger Areas in the UK: Where Not to Fly

What Is a Danger Area?

A Danger Area is a defined volume of airspace within which activities dangerous to the flight of aircraft may take place at specified times. In the UK, Danger Areas are primarily associated with military activities such as:

• Live firing ranges (artillery, small arms, naval gunnery)
• Weapons testing and missile firing
• Military flight training at high speed and low level
• Parachute dropping zones
• Air-to-air refuelling areas

Danger Areas are identified by a 'D' prefix followed by a number (e.g., D012 Lydd Ranges, D064 Aberporth).

Danger Areas vs Restricted Areas vs Prohibited Areas

UK airspace uses three types of special-use airspace designation:

• Danger Area (D): Entry is not legally prohibited, but activities within are hazardous. Pilots enter at their own risk.
• Restricted Area (R): Entry is prohibited without permission from the controlling authority. Fewer of these exist in the UK.
• Prohibited Area (P): Entry is completely prohibited. Extremely rare in the UK (e.g., P005 around the Houses of Parliament).

For drone pilots, the practical effect is the same: do not fly into any of these areas when they are active.

Major UK Danger Areas

The UK has numerous Danger Areas spread across the country. Some of the most significant include:

• D012 Lydd Ranges — military firing ranges in Kent
• D064 Aberporth — weapons testing range in west Wales, also used for drone testing
• D401 series — North Sea military exercise areas
• D501-D510 Hebrides Range — missile testing range off the west coast of Scotland
• D604 Cape Wrath — live firing range in the far north of Scotland
• D125 series — Salisbury Plain training areas

How to Check Danger Area Activity

Danger Areas are not active all the time. Most operate on a scheduled basis or are activated by NOTAM. To check whether a Danger Area is active:

• NOTAMs: Check the NATS AIS website for current NOTAMs in your area
• NATS Drone Assist app: Shows Danger Areas on the map with activity status
• UK AIP: Lists the published hours of activity for each Danger Area
• D and I (Danger and Information) telephone service: NATS operates a telephone line that can provide real-time status of Danger Areas

Even when a Danger Area is notified as inactive, exercise caution. Activity schedules can change at short notice.

Risks of Flying Near Danger Areas

The risks of flying a drone in or near an active Danger Area are severe:

• Live ammunition and ordnance — your drone could be destroyed, or debris could cause harm
• High-speed military aircraft — a collision could be fatal for the aircrew
• Radar and electronic interference — military radar and electronic warfare equipment may affect your drone's GPS and control signals
• Legal consequences — while entry to a Danger Area is not legally prohibited in the same way as a Restricted Area, causing a hazard to military operations could result in prosecution

Safety Margins

Even when flying outside a Danger Area, maintain a safe margin from its boundaries. GPS accuracy, wind, and control input lag can cause your drone to drift beyond your intended flight area. A buffer of several hundred metres from the boundary of an active Danger Area is prudent.