Accused Of Flying Too Close To Firefighting Operations

A UAV pilot accused of flying too close to firefighting operations in New Zealand has been convicted for violating controlled airspace in what was described as a test case in that country.

The pilot, Simon Roy Reeve was convicted on three charges of operating his unmanned aircraft at Pines Beach during a fire event. Judge Gary MacAskill announced the verdict Friday morning, according to the news site stuff.co.nz.

While the judge said Reeve, 38, was not flying his UAV at the same time that a helicopter was fighting a fire at Pines Beach, he did say that the aircraft presented a danger to the helicopter during its landing approach. At one point, the two aircraft were about 400 feet apart.

The judge said that the video captured by the DJI Phantom II drone proved that it had flown into controlled airspace without permission.

Reeves was convicted of causing danger by operating his aircraft on January 5, and of violating controlled airspace on January 5 and 20. He is free without bail pending sentencing. A date for sentencing has not yet been determined.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.caa.govt.nz