Drone Rules for Lower Hacheston
Drone operators near Wickham Market, Suffolk, must exercise extreme vigilance due to an active, long-term Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operation. These flights utilize Visual Observers for Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS) up to a peak altitude of 660ft AGL (800ft MSL) and are active daily from sunrise
Wickham Market BVLOS Drone Operation Advisory
A temporary navigation warning is active within a 0.5 nautical mile radius centered on coordinates 52°09'50"N, 0001°23'03"E near Wickham Market, Suffolk. This airspace is being utilized for commercial or industrial Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) unmanned aircraft operations under Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) exemption AR-2026-2674/01.
Operating an unmanned system in this immediate sector introduces unique, high-density drone-to-drone collision risks:
Elevated Operational Altitudes: The BVLOS aircraft is authorized to fly from the surface up to a maximum height of 660ft AGL (800ft MSL). This significantly exceeds the standard 400ft AGL ceiling imposed on open-category drone pilots, meaning an authorized, potentially large drone may be descending or transiting directly through your local flying space.
Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS) Coordination: The operators are utilizing ground-based Visual Observers (VOs) to monitor the airspace and relay traffic alerts to a remote pilot who cannot see the aircraft firsthand. Because the remote pilot relies on relayed instructions, their reaction time to an unexpected hobbyist or commercial drone entering their path may be delayed.
Daily Scheduled Activity: Operations are scheduled to take place daily during daylight hours from sunrise (SR) to sunset (SS).
Local operators must maintain an absolute, unbroken visual line of sight (VLOS) with their own aircraft. If you observe another unmanned aircraft operating in the area, maintain a safe horizontal buffer, monitor its trajectory closely, and be prepared to safely land your drone to prevent a mid-air conflict.