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Copyright © The Kite Society of Great Britain 2000 -
KITE FLYING LEGISLATION
Civil Aviation legislation applicable to kite flying is contained in the Rules of the Air Regulations and the The Air Navigation Order). These are amended from time to time but for the purposes of these documents kites are classified as aircraft.
The relevant parts of the above in relation to kites state that:-
Article97 (3) (d)
A kite shall not be flown at a height of more than 30 metres above ground level within the aerodrome traffic zone of a notified aerodrome during the notified operating hours of that aerodrome. [Although it is generally accepted that for safety reasons you should not fly within 5km of any aerodrome].
Article 97 (3) (e)
A kite shall not be flown at a height of more than 60 metres above ground level.
Rule 52 Captive Balloons and Kites at Night
A kite while flying at night at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall display lights as follows:
- (1) A captive balloon or kite flying at night at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall display lights in accordance with paragraphs (2), (3) and (4).
- (2) A group of two steady lights shall be displayed consisting of a white light placed 4 metres above a red light, both being of at least five candela and showing in all directions, the white light being placed not less than 5 metres nor more than 10 metres below the basket or, if there is no basket, below the lowest part of the balloon or kite.
- (3) On the mooring cable of the balloon or kite, at intervals of not more than 300 metres measured from the group of lights specified in paragraph (2), there shall be displayed
- (a) groups of two lights of the colour and power and in the relative positions specified in paragraph (2); and
- (b) if the lowest group of lights is obscured by cloud, an additional group of such lights below the cloud base.
- (4) On the surface of the ground there shall be displayed a group of three flashing lights arranged
- (a) in a horizontal plane at the apexes of a triangle, approximately equilateral, each side of which measures at least 25 metres;
- (b) so that one side of the triangle shall be approximately at right angles to the horizontal projection of the cable and shall be delimited by two red lights; and
- (c) so that the third light shall be a green light, placed so that the triangle encloses the object on the surface to which the balloon or kite is moored.
Rule 53 Captive Balloons and Kites by Day
- 53. (1) A captive balloon flying by day at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall have attached to its mooring cable tubular streamers which are
- (a) not less than 40 centimetres in diameter and 2 metres in length; and
- (b) marked with alternate bands of red and white 50 centimetres wide at intervals of not more than 200 metres measured from the basket or, if there is no basket, from the lowest part of the balloon.
- (2) A kite flying by day at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall have attached to its mooring cable either:
- (a) tubular streamers as specified in paragraph (1); or
- (b) at intervals of not more than 100 metres measured from the lowest part of the kite, streamers not less than 80 centimetres long and 30 centimetres wide at their widest point, marked with alternate bands of red and white 10 centimetres wide.
The above is an extract from the full regulations. For further details of the Act above look at the www.caa.co.uk. For permission to exceed the limits stated above you are required to complete an application form. Details from
Airspace Utilisation Section
Directorate of Airspace Policy
Civil Aviation Authority
K1
45-
London WC2B 6TE
Direct Dial: 020 7453 6599 or 6585
Fax: 020 7453 6593