A Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) is a designated area in which specific restrictions or prohibitions are placed on drone operations for safety, security, or environmental reasons.

For instance, most airports, airfields, and spaceports have a FRZ.

The shape of FRZ is constructed by using the airfield’s existing aerodrome traffic zone and, where applicable, a Runway Protection Zone(s) with a shape five kilometres by one kilometre starting from the point known as the ‘threshold’ at the end of each of the airfield’s runways. Both zones extend upwards to a height of 2,000 feet above the airfield.

You should not fly in this zone unless you have permission from air traffic control at the airport or, if air traffic control is not operational, from the airport itself.

Smaller airfields may not appear on the map or in drone apps, so you must always look out for light aircraft, equipment or facilities that suggest there could be an airfield nearby.

To view a map showing FRZ's in the UK, click here.