Air safety chiefs set to scrap rules on toy drones
(U.K.)
AVIATION safety chiefs are set to exempt toy drones from
strict rules that could land parents with a hefty fine this
Christmas.
Remote-controlled quadcopters - commonly referred to as drones
- are one of the hit toys this Christmas with thousands of the machines set to
be unwrapped on December 25.
But even tiny toy drones made of foam and
costing as little as £30 are subject to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rules
which mean they cannot be flown within 50 metres of a building.
All drones, including small "toy" models, are
banned from flying within 50m of buildings
Breaking the rule could
land the offender with a £5,000 fine.
A CAA spokesman yesterday confirmed
they were considering a rule change, although it is unlikely to happen before
Christmas.
He said: "With devices weighing less than a kilogramme there
are much smaller safety risks and the CAA is considering introducing an
exemption for these very small devices in the near future.
"These are
typically hand held devices and the toy end of the market."
He added: "I
don't think we will do it before Christmas."
Riccardo De Felice, owner of
Marionville Models in Edinburgh,said there has been a "boom" in the drone
business.
"On Christmas day the skies will be black," he said.
"The
thing with drones is you can buy one from £20 to £1,000. The size of the market
is huge."
He said the CAA is facing an increasingly difficult task keeping up
with developments.
"The drone market didn't exist 20 years ago," he
said.
"Some are so small and light if you get hit by one it isn't going to
injure you. It isn't going to be pleasant but it's not a big deal."
He
said an exception for devices under 1kg would be a "clever move" as the law as
it stands would be unenforceable.
"There will be no arrests of little
Johnny on Christmas day," he said, although technically many children will be on
the wrong side of the law.
He continued: "Even a multirotor made from foam
flying in a congested area is technically breaking the law.
"I'm sure the
CAA will do the right thing in the end. This would definitely be a step in the
right direction."
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