UK Civil Aviation Authority appointed to supervise security requirements for drones – sUAS Information

• The UK’s aerospace regulator has been appointed because the Market Surveillance Authority (MSA) for drones.
• From 1 January 2026, drones within the Open Class should meet new product requirements below the Class Marking framework to boost security and safety.
• The MSA will guarantee compliance with these requirements amongst producers, importers, and distributors, intervening when crucial.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority will tackle a brand new function to observe and implement new product requirements for drones within the UK, enhancing security and supporting the sector’s additional development.

On Monday 17 March 2025, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, named the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) because the UK’s drone Market Surveillance Authority (MSA).

From 1 January 2026, drones working within the Open Class – which covers low-risk drone flights and leisure actions – might be topic to product requirements below a framework referred to as ‘Class Marking’, enhancing the security and safety of the sector.

The MSA might be chargeable for guaranteeing required requirements for drones are met by producers, in addition to importers and distributors, and intervening when there’s non-compliance. It means drone customers may have extra confidence that drones they buy are protected and adjust to security requirements.

Sophie O’Sullivan, Director of Way forward for Flight on the UK Civil Aviation Authority, mentioned:

“This can be a actually essential function to help in our work regulating and enabling the increasing drone sector.

“As drones turn into extra commonplace in on a regular basis life, defending public security and curiosity is vital. These new powers will assist us proceed to uphold the very best security requirements throughout the trade.”

Drones or Remotely Piloted Plane Methods (RPAS) within the ‘Open’ Class – low danger flying with RPAS that weigh lower than 25kg) – might be topic to the product requirements from 1 January 2026. The Class Marking framework for Open Class product requirements relies on retained EU regulation.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has been appointed by the Division for Transport (DfT) to tackle the function of the Market Surveillance Authority (MSA), which might be chargeable for:

• Making certain required requirements for RPAS are met by producers and different financial operators (e.g. importers and distributors) and intervening when there’s non-compliance. It will contain executing the surveillance and management of merchandise positioned on or coming into the market below UK Regulation (EU) 2019/945.
• Implementing and overseeing the conformity evaluation framework within the UK (topic to regulatory change), guaranteeing producers exhibit compliance with designated requirements relevant for sophistication marked RPAS. It will contain the administration, oversight, approval and withdrawal of Conformity Evaluation Our bodies (CABs), that are third-party organisations that carry out conformity evaluation actions on RPAS to make sure merchandise are compliant with necessities.
• Serving to the MSA perform mature because the regulatory atmosphere continues to develop.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority is recruiting specialists with the talents and expertise to make sure the sector has the required administration, oversight and approvals in place.

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