Drone pilot's plain-English companion · UK

Read
the Sky

Apps like Drone Assist speak in pilot code. This page translates it - so you never read a restriction upside down again.

Decode a real readout

This is an actual line from Drone Assist. Tap each part to translate it.

TAP A CODE ABOVE ▲
Each piece means something specific. Start with any chip.
⛔
Put together: this zone is restricted from the ground up, all day every day. You need permission before take-off - height does not save you.

Jargon Decoder

A–Z of what apps say

Type any code you see on screen - the list filters as you type.

Nothing matching that - try fewer letters.

Where to Fly

The traffic-light rule

Drop a pin on your exact spot in the map app first. Then match what you see to one of these three.

Never Without Permission

Pin lands in a RED / magenta shape
  • Airport & airfield FRZs - criminal offence to fly without a yes from them
  • Restricted Areas (EG R…) - MoD sites, prisons, power stations
  • Any active NOTAM area - air shows, VIP visits, emergencies
  • Over crowds - festivals, matches, protests, always
  • Near police, fire or ambulance incidents

Fly With Extra Care

Pin lands in AMBER / YELLOW, or near these
  • Glider & parachute sites - watch for winch cables and canopies
  • Danger Areas (EG D…) - check if active before flying near
  • Military low-flying areas - jets at your height, keep eyes up
  • Helicopter landing sites & hospitals
  • Wildlife and nesting areas - keep distance and noise down

Clear to Fly

Pin lands in NO coloured shape
  • Airspace is open - now sort the ground
  • Get the landowner's OK for take-off & landing
  • Council parks: check byelaws; National Trust: written permission only
  • Stay under 120 m and keep the drone in your own eyesight
  • Sub-250g drones may fly over people - never over crowds
The golden rule: "Surface to 2000ft" describes where the restriction lives - it starts at the ground. If your pin is inside the shape, there is no legal height for you. Restrictions are read as walls, not ceilings.

Pre-Flight Checklist

Run before every flight

Pilots of big aircraft never trust memory - they run the list. Do the same. Ticks reset when you close the page, by design: every flight gets a fresh run.

0 / 10 checked
✈ All ten green - you are clear for take-off. Fly well.