The increase in the use of drones in Jersey has led to concerns that the devices present a hazard to aircraft along with having the capacity to injure people or damage property through loss of control.
In response, laws were introduced last year controlling the use of drones and other small unmanned aircraft (SUAs) weighing less than 20 kilogrammes, such as model aircraft, in Jersey.
SUAs were banned from flying more than 400 feet above the ground, within 150 metres of congested areas and open air assemblies of more than 1,000 people, or within the ‘aerodrome traffic zone’ – an exclusion zone extending two nautical miles – 2.3 miles – around the Airport.
But despite the introduction of the new restrictions, Jersey Air Traffic Control has received reports that drones have been spotted flying as high as 2,000 feet in Jersey Airport’s flight path both at St Ouen’s Bay and Gorey recently.
And following these reports Detective Chief Inspector Chris Beechey of the States police has warned that they will now be coming down hard to enforce drone regulations.
Meanwhile, the use of SUAs will also be banned throughout the Island at certain times during this month’s air display, as a six nautical mile – 6.9 miles – no-fly zone centred around St Aubin’s Bay is imposed.
Det Chief Insp Beechey said: ‘We will be taking a zero tolerance approach with respect to any matters which have the potential to cause any damage to air passengers or any form of aeronautical safety.
‘Working in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority, we will also aim to provide guidance and direction to members of the public who purchase drones, so that they can use their devices responsibly and safely.
‘But anyone who does use drones will have to be acutely aware of their responsibilities with regard to the law and to anyone else using airspace around Jersey.
‘For any incidents reported, the circumstances around it will be taken into account, but any potential to cause danger to others in the airspace or people on the ground will be taken very seriously.’
The maximum penalties which can be imposed for breaching the regulations, which were introduced under the Air Navigation (Jersey) Law 2014, are a two year custodial sentence or an unlimited fine.
Jersey Air Traffic Control watch manager Darren Dupré said that drones are particularly dangerous to air traffic during landing and take off, not least because they can get caught in engines and also force aircraft to take evasive manoeuvres. There have been no near miss in Jersey.
The Island-wide ban on the use of drones, and any other unauthorised aircraft, for the Air Display will be imposed between midday and 4 pm on Wednesday 9 September and also between 11.45 am and 4 pm on Thursday 10 September – the date of the display.
The States Director of Civil Aviation, Gus Paterson, said: ‘We would advise anyone who wishes to use a drone to look at the Jersey Airport website – there’s plenty of information on there and on the internet in general on how to use drones safely and outlining the regulations.’
Details of the regulations relating to the use of drones, as well as guidance on how to use them safely, can be found at Jersey Airport website.
