Flying a Drone at Sunset and Sunrise in the UK

Does UK Law Prohibit Flying at Sunset or Sunrise?

The UK does not impose a blanket ban on drone flights based on the position of the sun. Unlike some countries that define strict daylight-only windows, the CAA's primary concern is whether you — the remote pilot — can maintain continuous Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) of your unmanned aircraft.

Under the UK's implementation of retained EU regulation and the Air Navigation Order 2016 (as amended), VLOS means unaided visual contact (corrective lenses are permitted) sufficient to monitor the aircraft's flight path relative to other aircraft, people, vehicles, vessels, and structures. This is a functional test, not a clock-based one.

The VLOS Challenge at Golden Hours

Sunset and sunrise create rapidly changing light conditions. During these periods, several factors can compromise your ability to maintain VLOS:

• Direct sun glare — flying towards a low sun can make it nearly impossible to track your drone's silhouette
• Rapid contrast changes — your drone may be visible against a bright sky one moment and lost against dark terrain the next
• Shadow zones — buildings, hills, and trees create pockets of deep shadow where a drone becomes invisible
• Colour perception — reduced light levels affect your ability to judge orientation from LED indicators or surface markings

Each of these factors is context-dependent. A drone with bright strobes over an open field at sunset may remain perfectly visible, while the same aircraft over a tree canopy at the same time may not be trackable.

Practical Considerations for Pilots

If you intend to fly near sunset or sunrise, consider these steps:

• Check the exact sunset and sunrise times for your location using Met Office or similar services — times vary significantly across the UK and throughout the year
• Arrive early enough to assess the lighting conditions on site before launching
• Fit auxiliary lighting to your drone if it is not already equipped with visible strobes or navigation lights
• Plan your flight path so you are not looking directly into the sun
• Reduce your maximum operating distance — VLOS range shrinks as light diminishes
• Monitor how quickly conditions are changing — light can shift dramatically within 10 to 15 minutes around these times

Civil Twilight and Its Relevance

Civil twilight is the period when the sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon. During civil twilight, there is generally enough ambient light to see objects clearly without artificial lighting. In the UK, civil twilight can last roughly 30 to 40 minutes after sunset (or before sunrise), though this varies with latitude and season — it is longer in Scotland during summer than in southern England.

While UK drone regulations do not reference civil twilight explicitly, many pilots use it as a practical benchmark. Flying during civil twilight is not automatically prohibited, but VLOS must still be maintained throughout.

Photographer and Videographer Considerations

Sunset and sunrise are prized by aerial photographers for their warm light and long shadows. If you are flying specifically to capture imagery at these times:

• Your camera's exposure settings do not affect your legal obligation to maintain VLOS — even if the camera can see in low light, your eyes must be able to track the aircraft
• Using FPV goggles or a monitor as your primary means of tracking the drone does not satisfy the VLOS requirement unless you have a competent observer maintaining unaided visual contact
• Consider using a spotter who faces away from the sun to track the aircraft while you manage the camera