RULES OF THE AIR
Air Navigation Order - November 2000
Kite Flying Legislation
Currently, Civil Aviation legislation applicable
to kite flying is contained in the Air Navigation Order 2000 (Statutory
Instrument No 2000/1562) and the Rules of the Air Regulations
1996 (Statutory Instrument No 1996/1393).
The constraints contained in the Air Navigation
Order 2000 and the Rules of the Air Regulations 1996 with regard
to the flying of kites (kites are classified as "aircraft"
in Schedule 1 of the Order) are as follows:-
Article 86(1)
The provisions of this Article shall apply only to or in relation
to aircraft within the United Kingdom.
Article 86(2) (b) (iv)
A kite shall not be flown at a height of more than 30 metres above
ground level within the aerodrome traffic zone of a notified aerodrome
during the notified operating hours of that aerodrome.
Article 86(2) (b) (v)
A kite shall not be flown at a height of more than 60 metres above
ground level.
The foregoing provisions may not take place without
the permission in writing of the Authority and in accordance with
any conditions subject to which that permission may have been
granted. The application to be made NOT LESS than 28 days prior
to the event
Article 63
Of the Order requires that a person shall not recklessly or negligently
act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft, or any person
therein.
Article 64
Of the Order requires that a person shall not recklessly or negligently
cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property.
Article 129 (1)
In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires:
'Aerodrome traffic zone' means the airspace specified
below, being airspace in the vicinity of an aerodrome which is
notified for the purposes of Rule 39 of the Rules of the Air 1996:
(a) in relation to such an aerodrome other than
one which is an offshore installation:
(i) at which the length of the longest runway is
notified as 1850 metres or less:
(aa) subject to sub-paragraph (bb), the airspace
extending from the surface to a height of 2000ft above the level
of the aerodrome within the area bounded by a circle centred on
the notified mid-point of the longest runway and having a radius
of two nautical miles;
(bb) where such an aerodrome traffic zone would
extend less than one and a half nautical miles beyond the end
of any runway at the aerodrome and this sub-paragraph is notified
as being applicable, sub-paragraph (ii) shall apply as though
the length of the longest runway is notified as greater than 1850
metres;
(ii) at which the length of the longest runway is
notified as greater than 1850 metres, the airspace extending from
the surface to a height of 2000ft above the level of the aerodrome
within the area bounded by a circle centred on the notified mid-point
of the longest runway and having a radius of two and a half nautical
miles;
(b) in relation to such an aerodrome which is on
an offshore installation, the airspace extending from mean sea
level to 2000ft above mean sea level and within one and a half
nautical miles of the offshore installation;
except any part of that airspace which is within
the aerodrome traffic zone of another aerodrome which is notified
for the for the purposes of this Order as being the controlling
aerodrome;
'Controlled airspace' means airspace which has been
notified as Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D or Class E airspace;
'Control area' means controlled airspace which has
been further notified as a control area and which extends upwards
from a notified altitude or flight level;
'Control zone' means controlled airspace which has
been further notified as a control zone and which extends upwards
from the surface;
'Notified' means set forth in document published
by the Authority and entitled 'United Kingdom Notam' or 'United
Kingdom Air Pilot' and for the time being in force;
Rule 14 The Rules of the Air
A kite while flying at night at a height exceeding 60 metres above
the surface shall display lights as follows:
(a) a group of two steady lights consisting of a
white light placed 4 metres above a red light, both being of at
least five candela and showing in all directions, the white light
being placed not less than 5 metres or more than 10 metres below
the lowest part of the kite;
(b) on the mooring cable, at intervals of not more
than 300 metres measured from the group of lights referred to
in sub-paragraph (a), groups of two lights of the colour and power
and in the relative positions specified in that sub-paragraph,
and, if the lowest group of lights is obscured by cloud, an additional
group below the cloudbase; and
(c) on the surface, a group of three flashing lights
arranged in a horizontal plane at the apexes of a triangle, approximately
equilateral, each side of which measures at least 25 metres; one
side of the triangle shall be approximately at right angles to
the horizontal projection of the cable and shall be delimited
by two red lights; the third light shall be a green light so placed
that the triangle encloses the object on the surface to which
the kite is moored.
A kite while flying by day at a height exceeding
60 metres above the surface shall have attached to it's mooring
cable at intervals of not more than 200 metres measured from the
lowest part of the kite, tubular streamers not less than 40 centimetres
in diameter and 2 metres in length, and marked with alternate
bands of red and white 50 centimetres wide, or at intervals of
not more than 100 metres measured from the lowest part of the
kite, streamers not less than 80 centimetres long and 30 centimetres
wide at their widest point and marked with alternate bands of
red and white 10 centimetres wide.
Extract From Rule 39 Rules of the Air
Notified aerodromes and notified hours of operation
Column 1 Column 2
(a) A Government aerodrome at such times as are notified
(b) An aerodrome having an air traffic control unit or an aerodrome
flight information unit during the notified hours of watch of
the air traffic control unit or the aerodrome flight information
unit
(c) A licensed aerodrome having a means of two-way radio communication
with aircraft during the notified hours of watch of the air/ground
radio station
Permissions for flight are normally only granted
for three month periods, to ensure that any airspace changes can
be incorporated. Normally, a telephone request for renewal will
be accepted; please give sufficient notice for renewal, especially
during the spring/summer period.
The application form includes a request to specify
a grid reference taken from Ordnance Survey (OS) Landranger Maps
and a copy of the map with the site CLEARLY marked. The Landranger
OS Map referred to in the form may be obtained from any stationery
shop or newsagents. Alternatively a photo-copy may be taken from
a map held by a library, under the permission from the OS, which
allows the CAA to take such copies.
There is no charge for issue of a Permission.
The above was reproduced with permission from:
Airspace Utilisation Section
Directorate of Airspace Policy
Civil Aviation Authority
K1
45-59 Kingsway
London WC2B 6TE
Direct Dial: 020 7453 6599 or 6585
Fax: 020 7453 6593
Email: ausops@dap.caa.co.uk
or david.miller@dap.caa.co.uk.
The CAA's
Home page is here - but it does not tell you any more about
kite flying legislation than this page.
Last updated: 31 October, 2005