CAA have not been consistent in there use of definitions: SUA and SUSA, and this leads to confusion when reading:
6.1.2 The standard CAA permission for SUA in the 7 kg or less category allows flight within
congested areas to within 50 metres of persons, structures etc. (or within 30 metres if the
persons are under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft). This category cannot fly
within 150 m of open-air assemblies of 1,000 people or more.
6.1.3 A SUSA in the weight category 7-20 kg is not normally allowed to fly within congested areas.
An operator may apply to the CAA to have their existing permission varied for specific flights
dependent on a number of factors detailed below at paragraphs 6.2 and 6.3. These variations
are currently granted only on an exceptional basis and should not be relied upon by the
operator as the foundation of their business model.
So first reading that I thought OK you can fly a SUA ie an RC Aircraft not equiped to gather information, ie a camera, in a park or area 50m clear of blah blah blah......(even here this info contradicts the info in that table where it indicates no distance minima for SUA <7kg).
But you cannot fly a SUSA under the same circumstances if it >7kg, so what about SUSA <7kg? Have they just been inconsistent in definition and regarding a SUSA as SUA
I know it all seems ridiculous and splitting hairs but these definitions can possibly mean the difference between prosecution, and no doubt resulting non-issue of future permission, and walking free, if the sh*t hits the fan, and not to mention insurance claims. Although I guess its academic as its what is written on the CAA PFAW Cert that we have to stick by.
The key definition is left open to interpretation, this being 'substantially' when refering to ‘Congested Area’ means any area in relation to a city, town or
settlement which is substantially used for residential, industrial, commercial or recreational.
purposes. We need some tangible guidelines, what is not substantial to you or me may be substantial to the CAA. And yes it is a tough one to quantify. I'm sure I am not alone in operating my SUSA and uncomfortably thinking to myself, I'm not totally sure this is within regs.
Thats just my Twa Bobs worth.