NEW rules banning drones from a five kilometre radius of airports mean that flying the devices in an area including Blenheim Palace, Bletchingdon and the northern tip of Oxford could lead to a prison sentence.

It means that from next month, in the wake of flights being grounded at Gatwick Airport in the run up to Christmas, drone users near London Oxford Airport will be unable to use the devices within a no fly zone encompassing Yarnton, Woodstock and Kidlington (roughly estimated above in red).

It is not clear if the zone will extend from the centre of the airport or be in place from all of airport land. But even if it is only the former, the zone extends north from the edge of Summertown to near Tackley, and east from beyond Blenheim Palace to near Islip.

Oxford Mail:

The new legislation, announced by the Department for Transport, will extend the no-fly zone from one kilometre on March 13.

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Drones have countless commercial uses, notably for surveying, while they are also used for leisure activities, including photography.

But concern about misuse has grown after sightings caused chaos over 36 hours at Gatwick Airport in December. Last month, flights were also grounded at Heathrow after further sightings.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "The law is clear that flying a drone near an airport is a serious criminal act.

"We're now going even further and extending the no-fly zone to help keep our airports secure and our skies safe.

"We are also working to raise awareness of the rules in place.

"Anyone flying their drone within the vicinity of an airport should know they are not only acting irresponsibly, but criminally, and could face imprisonment."

Oxford Mail:

There were 125 near misses between drones and aircraft reported in 2018, up 34 per cent on the total of 93 during the previous year.

Just six incidents were recorded in 2014.

The new rules would mean pass times like photography from above, which resulted in this shot of Blenheim Palace, becomes far more difficult for local drone enthusiasts.

Oxford Mail:

The Government is working on a new Drones Bill which will give police officers powers to stop and search people suspected of using drones maliciously above 400ft or within five kilometres of an airport

It will also give forces the power to access electronic data stored on a drone with a warrant.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid added: "Extending stop and search to include drones will help police tackle disruption like the recent misery we saw at UK airports, when travel was ruined for thousands of innocent passengers, and bring those responsible to justice.”

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From November 30 the owners of drones which weigh between 250g and 20kg will be required to register their devices, and drone pilots will have to pass an online safety test.

The Civil Aviation Authority's code of conduct, the Drone code, sets out existing rules for drone users, including staying below 400 feet and flying at least 50 metres away from buildings and people.