Starting 1 January 2026, all drones operated at night in the Open Category must be equipped with a green flashing light. This operational requirement applies to all night-time flights and overrides any previous exemptions or specific product designs.

As a remote pilot, the responsibility falls squarely on your shoulders to ensure this light is activated at all times during flight.

The "Unbroken Line": Why Continuous Operation is Critical

One of the most important aspects of this regulation is continuous operation from take-off to landing. You must ensure the green light does not de-activate—even when you start recording.

Why must the green light stay active during recording?

• Legal Compliance: Under UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 UAS.OPEN.060(2)(g), if the light deactivates for any reason—including a camera setting that turns off status lights to prevent glare—the flight is in instant breach of regulations.
• Safety and Identification: The mandate exists to ensure the drone is clearly visible from the ground at all times. This helps both the pilot and the public distinguish the drone from manned aircraft and ensures the pilot can genuinely maintain Visual Line of Sight (VLOS).
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Key Compliance Challenges

• The Hardware Gap: Not all drones come with these lights built-in. While class-marked drones like UK1, UK2, UK3, UK5, and UK6 require them by design, others—such as UK0 (sub-250g), UK4, and Legacy drones—often rely on manufacturer discretion and may require retrofitting.
• The Weight Conundrum: Adding an aftermarket light counts toward your drone’s Maximum Take-Off Mass (MTOM). Adding even a small 15g light to a 249g drone pushes it over the critical 250g threshold, which may force your operation into a different, more restrictive subcategory.
• Retrofitting Principles: Any added light must be securely attached, must not interfere with sensors or rotors, and must remain visible from the ground at all times.

Your 2026 Pre-Flight Checklist:

1. Verify Hardware: Ensure a compliant green flashing light is fitted.
2. Recalculate Weight: Confirm total mass (Drone + Battery + Light) still fits your category.
3. Lock Continuous Operation: Confirm the light does not auto-deactivate when the camera records.
4. Maintain VLOS: Keep operations close enough to distinguish your beacon from manned aviation.