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Drones and the Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ)
When you fly a drone or other unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), you have a responsibility to follow the rules that are in place to keep everyone safe.
Operating around Leeds Bradford Airport
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) use the term UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), which includes:
- Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA),
- Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS),
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or
- ‘Drones’
What is the Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ)?
All UK airports and airfields have a Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ). Anybody wishing to operate a drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) requires prior permission to do so from the relevant Air Traffic Control.
Dimensions of LBA's FRZ
At Leeds Bradford Airport, our FRZ is made up of a 2.5 nautical mile radius around the centre of the airfield, as well as 5km by 1km Runway Protection Zones, starting at the threshold of each runway. This FRZ extends from the Surface up to 2000ft above the ground.
To check whether or not a location you’d like to operate a UAV is within LBA’s FRZ, please check the FRZ map.
Warning – it is a criminal offence to operate a SUA within LBA’s FRZ without prior permission. You could face up to 5 years in prison.
Operating Outside the FRZ
If you intend to operate a UAV outside of LBA’s FRZ, you do not need to apply for permission or even let LBA know about it. However, we suggest you contact West Yorkshire Police via 101 and advise them of the details of your flight.
If you intend to operate above 400ft, you will need permission from the CAA.
More information can be found here.
Operating whilst LBA is closed
All FRZs within the UK are operational 24 hours/day, regardless of the operating hours of the aerodrome/airspace they sit within. This means that even when LBA and LBA ATC are closed, LBAs FRZ is still active, and operators must still request permission to operate from LBA ATC.
Application Process
- Leeds Bradford Airport have developed an online application process to apply for approval to operate an UAV within Leeds Bradford Airports Flight Restriction Zone.
- Applications take around 5 minutes to complete and are sent directly to LBA’s Air Traffic Control Department. Please ensure you read all the information carefully and provide as much information as possible, to assist our ATC team in making a decision.
- Please note that it can take our Air Traffic Control Department up to 72 hours to safely process and assess an application. You’ll receive a response via email, whether it is approved or rejected.
- There are a set of conditions that are applicable to every approved UAV Flight, but we may impose further depending on the location of your flight and/or the height you intend to operate to.
- To apply for approval to fly a UAV within Leeds Bradford Airports Flight Restriction Zone, please click here