CLOSE ENCOUNTERS Something needs to be done about drone

Posted on 06/23/2016 | About Calgary, Alberta

On Monday an airplane approaching Calgary International Airport came within 60 meters of an unmanned aerial drone. The Jazz flight was operated by Air Canada and was close enough that the HAWCS (Helicopter Air Watch for Community Safety) was dispatched, a unit that typically responds to life-threatening situations. This is yet another in a series of events that emphasize the need for new rules regulating drone activity.

In Canada an individual charged for flying an unmanned drone under the Criminal Code of Canada might expect a fine of up to $25,000 if caught. But it is not mandatory to register a remotely piloted vehicle in Canada if it weighs less than 35 kg.In the US every drone weighing more than 250 grams must be registered, including those used by model aircraft flying clubs. Those who do not register their drones and are caught, face a maximum of three years in jail or a fine of up to $250,000.00.The Transport Canada website suggests that drones not be flown • Closer than nine km (five nm) from any aerodrome (i.e. airport, heliport, helipad or seaplane base, etc.) • Higher than 90 metres (300 feet) above the ground. If a drone hits an airplane, it could damage the aircraft’s structure or even be “ingested” into the plane’s engine, causing engine failure, alternatively it could hit the windscreen and block pilots’ view, said Dan Adamus, president of the Canada Board of the Air Line Pilots Association International.In the case of the Jazz incident at the Calgary Airport, no one has been charged and identifying the pilot of an unregistered drone would be unlikely.“The regulations really haven’t kept pace with the growth in the industry,” said Aaron McCrorie, director of civil aviation at Transport Canada.Transport Canada plans changes the regulations for drones by 2017, with promises of stricter rules for licensing, training and registrations.