Wed, Sep 02, 2015
Had Captured Video Of New Zealand’s Anzac Day Celebration At The Request Of The City Council
UAV operator Robert Edwards got caught up in a regulatory change that resulted in $3,000 in fines levied by the New Zealand government for flying his aircraft over the Anzac Day centenary commemoration in Palmerston North in New Zealand.
Edwards had been contracted to take some photos using his UAV by the city council of the celebration. But a change in the rules that went into effect August 1 requires UAV operators to get the permission of a landowner and the air traffic control unit overseeing the airspace of an intended flight. Palmerston North is under the jurisdiction of the Palmerston North Airport tower.
sUAS News relays a report from stuff.co.nz that there was a complaint to the New Zealand CAA, and he was hit with fines of $2,000 for operating a “model aircraft” in controlled airspace without permission, and $1,000 for operating his aircraft “at night,”
“Yes, OK, I broke the rules. I didn’t mean to,” Edwards said.
The City Council distanced itself from Edwards. Council chief executive Paddy Clifford said Edwards had been contracted to take the photos, but “it is our understanding that Mr.Edwards, ad the pilot and operator, was responsible for complying with the CAA guidelines and rules covering the use of the drone.”
Edwards had reportedly asked for some support from the council to help with his case with the CAA. A spokeswoman for the agency said that the fines are fixed, and there is no flexibility in what is imposed.
Edwards said the fines were “excessive.” Since being fined, Edwards said he’s done “four or five jobs … I have done everything right.”
(Image from file)
More News
DETRESFA (Distress Phrase) The code word used to designate an emergency phase wherein there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and i>[...]
Aero Linx: The International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) The International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) is comprised of Mission organizations, flight sch>[...]
Also: EP Systems' Battery, Boeing SAF, Repeat TBM 960 Order, Japan Coast Guard H225 Buy Despite nearly 100 complaints totaling millions of dollars of potential fraud, combined with>[...]
Also: Viasat-uAvionix, UL94 Fuel Investigation, AF Materiel Command, NTSB Safety Alert Norges Luftsportforbund chose Aura Aero's little 2-seater in electric trim for their next gli>[...]
Also: Moya Delivery Drone, USMC Drone Pilot, Inversion RAY Reentry Vehicle, RapidFlight UAVOS has recently achieved a significant milestone in public safety and emergency services >[...]