Currently, Civil Aviation legislation applicable to kite flying is contained in the Air Navigation Order 2000 (Statutory Instrument No 2000/1562) and the Rules of the Air Regulations 1996 (Statutory Instrument No 1996/1393).

The constraints contained in the Air Navigation Order 2000 and the Rules of the Air Regulations 1996 with regard to the flying of kites (kites are classified as “aircraft” in Schedule 1 of the Order) are as follows:-

Article 86(1)
The provisions of this Article shall apply only to or in relation to aircraft within the United Kingdom.
Article 86(2) (b) (iv)
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.

Article 86(2) (b) (v)
A kite shall not be flown at a height of more than 60 metres above ground level.

The foregoing provisions may not take place without the permission in writing of the Authority and in accordance with any conditions subject to which that permission may have been granted. The application to be made NOT LESS than 28 days prior to the event

Article 63
Of the Order requires that a person shall not recklessly or negligently act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft, or any person therein.

Article 64
Of the Order requires that a person shall not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property.

Article 129 (1)
In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires:

‘Aerodrome traffic zone’ means the airspace specified below, being airspace in the vicinity of an aerodrome which is notified for the purposes of Rule 39 of the Rules of the Air 1996:

(a) in relation to such an aerodrome other than one which is an offshore installation:

(i) at which the length of the longest runway is notified as 1850 metres or less:

(aa) subject to sub-paragraph (bb), the airspace extending from the surface to a height of 2000ft above the level of the aerodrome within the area bounded by a circle centred on the notified mid-point of the longest runway and having a radius of two nautical miles;

(bb) where such an aerodrome traffic zone would extend less than one and a half nautical miles beyond the end of any runway at the aerodrome and this sub-paragraph is notified as being applicable, sub-paragraph (ii) shall apply as though the length of the longest runway is notified as greater than 1850 metres;

(ii) at which the length of the longest runway is notified as greater than 1850 metres, the airspace extending from the surface to a height of 2000ft above the level of the aerodrome within the area bounded by a circle centred on the notified mid-point of the longest runway and having a radius of two and a half nautical miles;

(b) in relation to such an aerodrome which is on an offshore installation, the airspace extending from mean sea level to 2000ft above mean sea level and within one and a half nautical miles of the offshore installation;

except any part of that airspace which is within the aerodrome traffic zone of another aerodrome which is notified for the for the purposes of this Order as being the controlling aerodrome;

‘Controlled airspace’ means airspace which has been notified as Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D or Class E airspace;

‘Control area’ means controlled airspace which has been further notified as a control area and which extends upwards from a notified altitude or flight level;

‘Control zone’ means controlled airspace which has been further notified as a control zone and which extends upwards from the surface;

‘Notified’ means set forth in document published by the Authority and entitled ‘United Kingdom Notam’ or ‘United Kingdom Air Pilot’ and for the time being in force;

Rule 14 The Rules of the Air
A kite while flying at night at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall display lights as follows:

(a) a group of two steady lights 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 or more than 10 metres below the lowest part of the kite;

(b) on the mooring cable, at intervals of not more than 300 metres measured from the group of lights referred to in sub-paragraph (a), groups of two lights of the colour and power and in the relative positions specified in that sub-paragraph, and, if the lowest group of lights is obscured by cloud, an additional group below the cloudbase; and

(c) on the surface, a group of three flashing lights arranged in a horizontal plane at the apexes of a triangle, approximately equilateral, each side of which measures at least 25 metres; 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; the third light shall be a green light so placed that the triangle encloses the object on the surface to which the kite is moored.

A kite while flying by day at a height exceeding 60 metres above the surface shall have attached to it’s mooring cable at intervals of not more than 200 metres measured from the lowest part of the kite, tubular streamers not less than 40 centimetres in diameter and 2 metres in length, and marked with alternate bands of red and white 50 centimetres wide, or 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 and marked with alternate bands of red and white 10 centimetres wide.

Extract From Rule 39 Rules of the Air
Notified aerodromes and notified hours of operation

Column 1 Column 2
(a) A Government aerodrome at such times as are notified
(b) An aerodrome having an air traffic control unit or an aerodrome flight information unit during the notified hours of watch of the air traffic control unit or the aerodrome flight information unit
(c) A licensed aerodrome having a means of two-way radio communication with aircraft during the notified hours of watch of the air/ground radio station

Permissions for flight are normally only granted for three month periods, to ensure that any airspace changes can be incorporated. Normally, a telephone request for renewal will be accepted; please give sufficient notice for renewal, especially during the spring/summer period.

The application form includes a request to specify a grid reference taken from Ordnance Survey (OS) Landranger Maps and a copy of the map with the site CLEARLY marked. The Landranger OS Map referred to in the form may be obtained from any stationery shop or newsagents. Alternatively a photo-copy may be taken from a map held by a library, under the permission from the OS, which allows the CAA to take such copies.

There is no charge for issue of a Permission.