CAA says it is checking class-mark complaints

The Civil Aviation Authority said in May it had received reports of suspected class-mark non-compliance on Open-category drones.

The Market Surveillance Authority “has recently received a number of reports relating to suspected UAS non-compliance with UK Class marking in the Open Category,” the CAA said. The notice named no brand, model or batch.

The Unmanned Aircraft (Market Surveillance Authority) Regulations 2025 named the CAA as that authority. From Jan. 1, Open-category drones placed on the UK market are subject to domestic product standards, the CAA class-marking page said.

Investigators may ask a manufacturer for technical data, the May note said. They may take no action if the aircraft meets the mark, or “take any and all reasonable steps to work with the manufacturer to ensure that their product remains in compliance.” The page does not list a recall.

What the reporting form is for

The CAA asks for reports of systemic product problems: a missing or wrong class label, or a fault that looks inherent to a model on the market. A neighbour flying too close is a different complaint.

Night flying

Open-category night flight in the UK requires a green flashing light, the CAA said, citing UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 UAS.OPEN.060(2)(g). Fitting or retrofitting a light to CAA guidance does not invalidate the class mark, the May note said. Some EU C-class drones still ship without that light. Operators flying at night in the Open category still need it.

From Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027, the UK MSA honours EU class marks, the same note said. From Jan. 1, 2028, a UK-class aircraft needs the green light as part of UK class marking “when specified.” DJI’s ViewPoints table maps C0, C1 and C2 airframes in this catalog to UK0, UK1 and UK2 during that transition.

Unmarked drones

Market surveillance covers products that claim a class. Mini 2, Mini SE, Air 2, Air 2S, Mavic 2 Pro and DJI FPV never had one. They use the CAA legacy weight table: under 250 grams is A1; from 250 grams to 2 kilograms is A3 unless the remote pilot holds an A2 Certificate of Competence. See Flying in the UK.