Friday, 3 March 2023 15:59

The importance of flying drones safely and legally has been highlighted after a drone pilot nearly caused a serious accident at a memorial flight in Buxton.

PC Matthew Moore, Flight Safety Manager for the Derbyshire Constabulary drone team, said: “Anyone using a drone must follow the rules to make sure they fly safely.

“As a police drone unit, we know the benefits drones can bring to society but people using a drone in this way not only threaten the safety of aircraft and the public they also damage the future use of drones.

“This is for the safety of not only yourself but others around.”

Drones must be flown safely and legally, within the limits of the operating category they are flying in.

This includes operator registration, pilot competency and maintaining separation distances from members of the public, built up areas and manned aviation. All drone operators are responsible for ensuring the drone is being flown safely and within the law at all times.

The reminder comes as Mark Bagguley, of Chatsworth Road, Fairfield, was this week fined £3,000 and handed a six-month suspended sentence for endangering an aircraft.

He had pleaded guilty at Derby Crown Court, in January, of endangering an aircraft and operating an aircraft out of the visual line of sight.

It is after he flew his drone close to the wing of an RAF Hurricane during a Battle of Britain memorial fly-past at the Buxton Carnival in July 2022.

At the time of the event a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) had been issued that warned people about the fly-past, and people who fly drones are meant to take notice of these.

The 49-year-old was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months and fined £3,000 plus £450 costs, and a £187 victim surcharge.

He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and will be subject to a curfew until May next year.

PC Moore said: “We welcome this sentence today as it reflects the serious risk this posed to the public.

“The way the pilot flew his drone was unsafe, illegal, and totally unacceptable. His actions could have resulted in very serious consequences should the drone have collided with the plane and cause the pilot to lose control.”

More information on the rules around the use of drones can be found at www.register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code