With drones a hot gift item this holiday, the UK government is mulling stricter safety rules following a string of near misses with aircraft.

Those caught flying drones dangerously face an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison.

In November, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launched a website to publish its revised code of conduct for drone users, labelled the Drone Code.

Under CAA rules, drones must not be flown above 400ft (122 metres) or within 150ft (46 metres) of people or property.

They must also be kept at least 500ft (152 metres) away from crowds and built-up areas, and must not fly over such locations at any height.

Anyone using a drone for commercial purposes has to register with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

But now leisure users may have to register their drones and perhaps undertake a test similar to the driving theory test.

This will apply to any drone weighing over 250g (0.55lb) - which covers just about anything more than a toy.

Jonathan Nicholson, an assistant director at the CAA, is quoted in The Guardian: “Drone users have to understand that when taking to the skies they are potentially flying close to one of the busiest areas of airspace in the world. It is a complex system that brings together all manner of aircraft including passenger aeroplanes, military jets, helicopters, gliders and light aircraft.”

The UK AirportBoard (UKAB) reported 59 cases of near-misses involving drones and aircraft in the past year. Among them, was a drone passing the right wing of a Airbus A320 passenger jet on 4 August as it came into land in Manchester. Another nearly hit a jet landing at Heathrow. Though not confirmed, pilot witness reports suggest these carried cameras making the drone heavier and potentially more lethal

Air safety body the UK Airprox Board, said a minority of drone operators were continuing to “flagrantly disregarding regulation and common sense” to film “ever more spectacular video footage”.

Flight crews are rarely able to take any action to avoid potential collision with drones on a visual sighting.

Balpa, the pilots union, has called for ‘geo-fencing’ to be used for all drones, fitting them with technology that would stop them being flown in prohibited airspace.

According to The Guardian it has called for testing to establish the effect of a drone striking an engine. Similar tests are done with frozen birds at engine manufacturers. Pilots fear that the shrapnel from a collision between an engine and a drone could cause catastrophic damage to other parts of the plane.

Sweden's government recently announced plans to outlaw any drone fitted with a camera that does not have a licence to operate for surveillance. This restriction does not exempt journalists or filmmakers and is effectively banning drone use in the country.

In the US, the FAA has processed 23,818 applications to use drones for commercial purposes since it introduced a registration scheme in August.