PART 1 - Requirements for a class UK0 Unmanned aircraft system

SI 2025/1106

Text in magenta in force from 1 January 2028

A class UK0 UAS bears the following class identification label on the UA:

UK0 class identification label for a class UK0 unmanned aircraft system

A class UK0 UAS shall comply with the following:

(1) have an MTOM of less than 250 g, including payload;

(2) have a maximum speed in level flight of 19 m/s;

(3) have a maximum attainable height above the take-off point limited to 120 m;

(4) be safely controllable with regards to stability, manoeuvrability and the command and control link performance, by a remote pilot following the manufacturer’s instructions, as necessary under all anticipated operating conditions including following the failure of one or, if appropriate, more systems;

(5) be designed and constructed in such a way as to minimise injury to people during operation, sharp edges shall be avoided, unless technically unavoidable under good design and manufacturing practice. If equipped with propellers, the UA shall be designed in such a way as to limit any injury that may be inflicted by the propeller blades;

(6) be exclusively powered by electricity;

(7) if equipped with a follow-me mode and when this function is on, be in a range not exceeding 50 m from the remote pilot, and make it possible for the remote pilot to regain control of the UA;

[Editorial note: New paragraphs 7(A), (B), (C) and (D) are inserted on 1 January 2028:

(7A) if equipped with a camera, have a unique serial number compliant with standard ANSI/CTA-2063-A-2019, Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Serial Numbers, 2019(a);

(7B) if equipped with a camera, have a direct remote identification that:

  1. allows the upload of the UAS operator registration number required in accordance with Article 14 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 and any additional number provided by the registration system; the system shall perform a consistency check verifying the integrity of the full string provided to the UAS operator at the time of registration; in case of inconsistency, the UAS shall emit an error message to the UAS operator;

  2. ensures, in real time during the whole duration of the flight, the direct periodic broadcast from the UA using an open and documented transmission protocol, in a way that it can be received directly by existing mobile devices within the broadcasting range, of at least the following data:

    (i) the UAS operator registration number and the verification code provided by the CAA during the registration process unless the consistency check defined in point (a) is not passed;

    (ii) the unique physical serial number of the UA compliant with point (7A);

    (iii) the time-stamp, the geographical position of the UA and its height above the surface or take-off point;

    (iv) the route course measured clockwise from true north and ground speed of the UA;

    (v) the geographical position of the remote pilot or, if not available, the take-off point; and

    (vi) an indication of the emergency status of the UAS;

  3. reduces the ability of tampering the functionality of the direct remote identification system;

(7C) if equipped with a camera, be capable of taking off only if the direct remote identification is functional and activated;

(7D) if equipped with a camera, be equipped with a geo-awareness function that provides:

  1. an interface to load and update data containing information on relevant restricted areas, which ensures that the process of loading or updating such data does not degrade its integrity and validity;

  2. a warning alert to the remote pilot when a potential breach of airspace limitations is detected; and

  3. information to the remote pilot on the UA’s status as well as a warning alert when its positioning or navigation systems cannot ensure the proper functioning of the geo-awareness function;]

(8) be placed on the market with manufacturer’s instructions providing:

(a) the characteristics of the UA including but not limited to the:

— class of the UA

— UA mass (with a description of the reference configuration) and the maximum take-off mass (MTOM);

— general characteristics of allowed payloads in terms of mass, dimensions, interfaces with the UA and other possible restrictions;

— equipment and software to control the UA remotely; and

[Editorial note: The 'and' after the fourth item above is deleted and new entries below are inserted on 1 January 2028:

— the procedures to upload the UAS operator registration number into the direct remote identification system;

— reference of the transmission protocol used for the direct remote identification system emission; and]

— a description of the behaviour of the UA in case of a loss of the command and control link;

(b) clear operational instructions;

(c) operational limitations (including but not limited to meteorological conditions and day/night operations); and

(d)  appropriate description of all the risks related to UAS operations adapted for the age of the user;

(9) include an information notice published by the CAA providing the applicable limitations and obligations, in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947.