UK Drone Operators Speak Up on the CAA's Proposed 25/26 Fee Hikes. Act Now!

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) consultation on statutory charges for FY2025/26 - CAP3047 - has sparked significant concern within the drone operator community. Released on 18-Nov-24, it proposes eye-watering price rises for operational authorisations in the UK.

I've spoken to many of our clients and industry contacts over the last couple of days and it's very clear that there is widespread surprise—shock might be a better word—at the proposed scale of price increases.

It's crucial to remember this is a consultation—these changes are not set in stone. The industry has an opportunity to voice its concerns and potentially influence the outcome. It's essential for every operator to participate in this consultation by heading to the response page via the link provided in the consultation document or by visiting drndsk.io/howmuch.

The DiSCO Deployment: Convenience or Deferred Chaos?

The introduction of the Digitising Specific Category Operations (DSCO) platform has been widely celebrated for simplifying the application process for drone operators. On the surface, it appears to reduce the administrative burden, eliminating the need for the annual scramble to update operations manuals and collate flight logs. However, a deeper dive reveals a potential downside: deferred, rather than reduced, effort.

Operators now face oversight audits, often requiring short-notice preparation of flight logs, operations manuals, and additional evidence from recent jobs. The time and stress involved may surpass the old system's requirements, effectively shifting the workload rather than alleviating it. This deferral of pain is seen by many as a step back in efficiency for the operator.

However, there's little doubt the CAA benefits significantly from the streamlined application process. They apparently audit only around 20% of applications whereas previously they would likely have manually review most, if not all, applications.

Price Hikes and the User-Pays Principle: A Double-Edged Sword?

The consultation document justifies the changes as necessary to maintain safety, modernise processes, and align with the "user-pays" principle. For PDRA-01 applications, fees are set to increase from £234 to £500—a staggering 113% rise. While this generates significant incremental revenue for the CAA (c. £800k based on 3k PDRA-01 holders), many operators question the justification behind such round-number pricing, suspecting it lacks rigorous cost analysis.

Operators also challenge the broader implications of the "user-pays" principle. If the user is going to pay, but there's little-to-no user input (consultations aside), then who sets the budget and decides what the money gets spent on? If someone else is paying but you can take as much money as you like from them and decide what to spend it on, you're unlikely to be as prudent with your spend as you might otherwise be if it was your own money – right?

The Risk of Stifling Growth

For smaller operators and new entrants, these price increases could prove prohibitive, stifling innovation and growth within the grass-roots drone industry. Worse, the higher costs might drive some operators to abandon their General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC) entirely, adopting riskier, unregulated practices. This not only undermines safety but also weakens the industry's credibility and professionalism.

Corporate operators with deeper pockets may weather these changes, but the disparity risks creating a two-tier system, where innovation and accessibility are limited to those with the financial means.

What Are We Gaining?

The CAA consultation document outlines several benefits of these changes:

• A new framework and application service for remotely piloted aircraft.
• Support for emerging technologies through the Future of Flight programme and AI Strategy.
• A dedicated scheme for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, separating them from General Aviation for easier navigation.

While these initiatives aim to modernise the sector, the proposed increases in fees raise eyebrows about their scalability and accessibility. Operators are also concerned about the potential for further fees if, for example, additional Pre-Defined Risk Assessments (PDRAs) are introduced or if the PDRAs are replace with an even more costly Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) application process.

Looking Ahead: Your Role

This consultation is a pivotal moment for the drone community. Operators must seize the moment and unite to ensure their voices are heard, advocating for changes that support rather than hinder industry growth. Transparency in cost allocation, scalability of fees, and the proportionality of oversight must remain at the forefront of these discussions.

The CAA has achieved significant cost savings, but as some operators suggest, the efficiency gains seem more reflective of reduced workloads for them rather than streamlined processes and simpler regulation for operators. If the industry is to shoulder the financial burden, it deserves a seat at the table to shape a fair and sustainable future for the UK drone industry.

Now is the time to act. Submit your views, share your insights, and contribute to a dialogue that will shape, and potentially save, the future of the drone industry. Visit drndsk.io/howmuch and make your voice count.

Let's ensure the CAA change tack and foster innovation, safety, and growth—not stifle them.