Protest planned over RAF Lossiemouth drone flights
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A protest is being planned against military drone flights which will soon be taking off from RAF Lossiemouth.
The drone, called the Protector, is due to take part in Exercise Joint Warrior later this month and October.
Made by the US firm General Atomics, it has a 79ft wingspan and weighs more than five and half tonnes.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has granted temporary permission for the flights.
However an organisation called UK Drone Watch is now organising a protest outside RAF Lossiemouth's main gate a week on Saturday.
The organisation is contrasting the domestic stance to that in America where military drone flights are currently only allowed away from populated areas.
The drone, which is also named the SkyGuardian, is capable of flying for 40 hours continuously.
As well as safety fears, UK Drone Watch also has ideological objections to the technology.
It said: "This summer the US drone company General Atomics is bringing the latest version of its drone – dubbed the SkyGuardian – to undertake test flights over England and Scotland from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and RAF Lossiemouth.
"Civil society groups and journalists have documented hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent civilians who have been killed in US drone strikes around the globe
"However the drone wars continue to expand, and these flights are to demonstrate the new drone to European and other militaries as well as trialling new technology that will enable such drones to fly in civil airspace."
The UK Civil Aviation Authority justified the decision to grant temporary permission for the flights in Moray and stressed that they would be safe.
A spokesperson said: "As the regulator of a civil airspace in the UK we seek to provide equal access for all potential users.
"This short-term change allows the SkyGuardian and other air space users to fly safely safely in the UK
"SkyGuardian is operating in airspace where it will be receiving a service from air traffic controllers.
"The temporary airspace changes make sure other aircraft are excluded from the area unless they and SkyGuardian can sense and avoid each other during the period of departure, arrival and while the aircraft is operating within the temporary danger areas established around the aerodromes."
The UK Drone Watch protest is scheduled to take place from noon-3pm on Saturday, September 18.
Its organisers are asking participants to bring "banners, placards, friends and food to share".
