Owners of drones over 250g will need to show they understand safety and privacy laws as government acts after dozens of near-misses with aircraft.
Drones will have to be registered and users forced to take a safety awareness test under new regulations announced by the UK government.
Dozens of near-misses with aircraft around airports have stoked fears over the safety of drone use.
Under the rules, owners of drones weighing more than 250g – heavier than many available on the high street – will have to register their details and demonstrate that they understand safety and privacy laws that affect their use.
The move follows research that showed strikes by drones of more than 400g could critically damage helicopter windscreens, while a bigger drone of about 2kg could critically harm airliner windscreens at higher speeds.
Pilots have been calling for a clampdown after a series of near-collisions between drones and passenger jets, particularly on approach or take-off from major airports, including Heathrow.
Twenty-two incidents involving commercial airliners and possible drones were investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority’s Airprox Board in the first four months of this year. Police have not been able to trace the users of the drones.
The pilots’ union, Balpa, said it welcomed the announcement but wanted to see details of the draft measures. It said the research tests, conducted on behalf of Balpa along with the government and military aviation authorities, showed that the impact of drones hitting aircraft windscreens and helicopter rotors could be catastrophic even at modest speeds with small drones.
Brian Strutton, the Balpa general secretary, said: “Pilots have been warning about the rise in the number of cases of drones being flown irresponsibly close to aircraft and airports for some time. This report clearly shows that readily available drones which can be flown by anyone can shatter or go straight through an aircraft windshield or shatter a helicopter rotor. And those impacts would have catastrophic consequences.”
The government said it was exploring the best legislative options for introducing the rules. It also plans to expand the use of geo-fencing, through which drones are programmed not to enter restricted locations, such as prisons or airports.
The aviation minister, Lord Callanan, claimed the rules would strike a balance between reaping the benefits of drones and minimising misuse. He said: “The UK is at the forefront of an exciting and fast-growing drones market and it is important we make the most of this emerging global sector.
“Our measures prioritise protecting the public while maximising the full potential of drones. Increasingly, drones are proving vital for inspecting transport infrastructure for repair or aiding police and fire services in search and rescue operations, even helping to save lives.”
Commercial drone operators are already obliged to complete a training course and register their drones with the CAA. Its rules state drones must not be flown above 120 metres (400ft), out of the user’s sight, over crowds or near aircraft and airports.
The Airport Operators Association welcomed the regulation but said enforcement would be vital for the rules to be effective, and called for mandatory geo-fencing to be introduced.