They are relatively inexpensive to buy and take little experience to operate but recreational drones pose a serious threat to passenger aircraft with Merimbula highlighted as an airport of high risk.
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There have already been a number of incidences of drones flying in the flight path at Merimbula and these reports have prompted CASA (the Civil Aviation Safety Authority) to issue a specific warning to drone flyers to stay well clear of aircraft operating into and out of Merimbula airport.
The warning coincides with reports from America where air tankers that were fighting a wildfire in Southern California on Sunday had to be grounded after a drone flew close to the blaze.
Drones are unmanned aircraft, typically with a wingspan of about 1 metre. Controlled by line of sight radio signal, and armed with a Go-pro or similar type of camera, they can take spectacular video particularly along the coastline.
A CASA spokesman said: “People who fly a drone in a way that causes a safety risk to an aircraft could face regulatory action from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.”
And despite CASA stipulating that “drones are not to be operated within 5.5km of an airport” YouTube video clearly shows a drone taking off at Short Point and heading towards Fishpen, which is the flight path for Regional Express planes and general aviation aircraft, coming into land at Merimbula.
The CASA ban covers a 5.5km radius from the airport which stretches from Tura Beach in the north to South Pambula, in the south and incorporates the start of Mount Darragh Road and Millingandi.
Merimbula airport manager, Ian Baker said: “There are a number of very serious issues. Coming into land or taking off is the point of highest workload for a pilot and the last thing he’s looking for is a drone.”
Mr Baker said that the implications are concerning as a drone could hit the aircraft’s windscreen, or get caught in propellers or the engine.
“Coming into land or taking off is the point of highest workload for a pilot and the last thing he’s looking for is a drone.”
- Ian Baker, airport manager, Merimbula
The CASA spokesman said: “If a drone collided with an aircraft it could potentially create a serious safety risk. Drones may also distract pilots while flying.”
For similar reasons, fishermen are asked not to clean their fish at the boat ramp as it encourages pelicans which can then fly into the flight path of passenger aircraft.
Mr Baker said that the danger had first come to his attention several months ago when the Shell garage on Arthur Kaine Drive contacted him to say there was a drone being flown from the boat ramp across the road. Mr Baker said that he went to the boat ramp and spoke with the owner to explain the hazard of flying a drone in the flight path.
He said that he had also seen drones flown from Short Point and Ford Park “all of which are approach points”.
“They are a genuine hazard flying at 500-600 feet or possibly higher and can be in the flight path.”
Mr Baker said that he was aware of about 20 incidents. “But if I know of 20, how many more have there been. So far we’ve been quite fortunate,” he said.
Mr Baker said he understood the attraction of videoing such a stunning area from the air but asked drone users to move outside of the flight path and stay within CASA’s rules ensuring they were at least 5.5km away from the airport. He also asked anyone in the tourism business to help educate visiting drone operators and ensure everyone’s safety.
The CASA spokesman said: “The geography of the region means drones being operated from headlands under flight paths or in areas near the airport may cause a safety risk.
“Drone flyers should stay well clear of any area where aircraft may fly overhead at a low altitude.
“Aviation regulations strictly prohibit unmanned aircraft being flown in a manner that creates a hazard to an aircraft taking off from or approaching for landing at a runway of an aerodrome or aircraft landing area.”
CASA’s rules for recreational have been compiled into a handy flyer.
