Relief at local club after lawmakers take drones fears on board
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LOCAL model aeroplane enthusiasts are relieved they can still enjoy their hobby after a government-level crackdown on drones.
Members of Dallachy Aeromodellers Club – who build and operate unmanned model aircraft – contacted Moray MP Douglas Ross in summer last year over fears that new legislation would be restrictive and costly for "an already safe and well-regulated hobby".
Mr Ross said today the new legislation to enhance police powers to deal with illegal or unsafe drone activity was "in everyone's best interests".
The legislation follows the introduction, on January 9, of the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill into the House of Lords.
The revised legislation takes account of concerns from local aeromodellers. Mr Ross wrote to the government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after meeting members of the club last July at Spey Bay. He said the members were concerned the previous proposals were too heavy-handed.
Mr Ross said: "I’m pleased to see their fears about over-legislating have not been realised and the new procedures put in place have, in fact, met with approval by them and others who legally operate drones for purely recreational purposes and already abide by safe practices.
"They were worried the new legislation had been proposed solely on the back of high-profile incidents involving drones like the one that shut down Gatwick Airport and didn’t reflect the use by recreational club members operating them safely and legally.
"There is now general agreement that enhancing police powers to deal with illegal and unsafe use of drones is in everyone’s best interests and I’m pleased the measures introduced took account of the local concerns that had been raised with me."
A Dallachy Aeromodellers Club spokesperson said they were grateful for the MP's support. He added: "The process of registration for unmanned aircraft operators has been under way since the beginning of November and our club, along with the rest of the aeromodelling community, have embraced it.
"Members of the Scottish Aeromodellers Association have completed the online testing and registration directly via the CAA’s website.
"British Model Flying Association (BMFA) members have been able to combine this process with their annual BMFA membership renewal, which took place in December. The process is very easy to negotiate.
"Thanks to the hard work of the BMFA and the other model flying associations on behalf of their membership in negotiations with the CAA, a reduced registration fee and exemptions for certain classes of model flying were achieved."
