Drone filming information

CMG Media | Information for neighbours and members of the public

If we have given you this page while flying, thank you for taking a moment to read it. We understand that seeing a drone near your home can raise questions. This page explains who we are, why we fly and how we handle the footage we record.

Who we are

CMG Media is a professional media business operated by Lance Myhill. We use drones to create commissioned films and photography for our clients. Each flight has a defined purpose, and we take responsibility for both how we fly and how we use the footage.

Our pilot and aircraft

Our pilot holds a CAA Flyer ID covering the A1 and A3 Open Category requirements, as well as an A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC). The A2 CofC is an additional qualification beyond the basic Flyer ID requirements.

We hold the required Operator ID and insurance for commercial drone work. The pilot also has a clear DBS certificate, which is separate from CAA flying qualifications.

Depending on the assignment, we fly a DJI Mini 4 Pro, DJI Air 3S or DJI Avata 360. We plan each flight around the aircraft being used, the location and the rules that apply.

Airspace and flight planning

Drone flight in the UK is governed by aviation rules overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Before each flight, we check the location, applicable airspace restrictions and current Notices to Aviation (NOTAMs). Where permission is required to enter restricted airspace, we obtain it before flying. A flight that complies with the ordinary rules does not require individual clearance from the CAA.

We also assess conditions on the ground, keep the aircraft within the applicable operating rules and do not fly over crowds. When using first-person-view goggles, we use an observer to help maintain direct visual sight of the drone.

Flying over a home, business or property

There is no general rule that makes it unlawful for a drone to fly over someone’s house, garden or property. Owning a property does not give its owner control over the airspace above it. A drone may lawfully pass over a home as part of a properly conducted flight; the homeowner’s permission is not automatically required simply because the aircraft passes overhead.

That does not remove our responsibilities. We fly at a reasonable height, avoid interfering with people’s use of their property and respect their privacy. If we need to take off or land on private property, we obtain the appropriate permission to use that land.

A flight path over your home does not mean that you, your family or your property are the subject of our filming. We may be travelling to a filming position or recording a much wider scene.

Incidental appearances in footage

Incidental appearances are a long-established part of photography and filmmaking. Someone may walk behind a BBC street interview; a house or car may appear in the background of a film or television programme. Their presence in a shot does not, by itself, make the filming unlawful or mean that their individual permission was required or their privacy was invaded.

Google Maps offers a familiar example of the distinction between a wider scene and a close view. Its aerial imagery shows streets, homes and gardens as part of a broad view, even when you zoom in. Street View records much closer views at road level, so Google blurs identifiable faces and number plates.

Our drone footage is generally intended to show a wider scene, such as a property, venue or landscape.

You may also be familiar with dashcams and home video doorbells and cameras, which routinely capture people and vehicles that their owners did not specifically invite into the frame. Whether footage comes from those cameras or a drone, its use can carry privacy and data protection responsibilities. As a professional business, we assess the footage we use and take concerns about identifiable people seriously.

People, homes and vehicles may appear incidentally within it without being the subject of our work. We would never deliberately zoom in on someone in their home or garden and then use that footage.

People in public places generally will have lower expectation of privacy in what is plainly visible to others, than they do in their own homes. That does not mean they have no privacy. We consider the circumstances, review footage before publication and take particular care where it could reveal private activities.

What if my family is in the back garden?

I’m a father and grandfather, so I understand why seeing a drone near your garden might cause immediate concern when your family is outside. We recognise that a family garden is a private space, and we take particular care where children are involved. We do not deliberately film people in their garden or zoom in on them from the air.

A garden might briefly appear in the background of a wider shot or beneath a drone travelling to its filming position when it is not filming. If identifiable children are captured, we would not use that footage in published work without first addressing the privacy concern. Please tell us the approximate time and location if you are worried about a particular flight, and we will review the relevant footage.

Privacy and Data Protection

We collect footage to produce commissioned work. Where it contains identifiable people, we handle it in accordance with applicable data protection law. Consent is not the only possible lawful basis for filming, but we must have an appropriate basis for our use of personal information and respect the rights of the people concerned.

CMG Media is operated by Lance Myhill, who is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) under reference ZC072305. Our Privacy Notice explains how we handle personal information.

Questions or concerns

You are welcome to ask us about a flight. Please bear in mind that the pilot may need to complete a manoeuvre or land before responding so they can give you their full attention.

You can also email compliance@cmgmedia.co.uk. If your concern relates to a particular flight or piece of footage, please include the approximate date, time and location so we can look into it.

Lance Myhill
Owner, CMG Media
cmgmedia.co.uk