Moray MP Douglas Ross has welcomed new legislation, which will ensure enhanced police powers to deal with illegal or unsafe ‘drone’ activity. This follows the introduction on 9th January of the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill into the House of Lords. Crucially, this revised legislation also takes account of concerns from local aeromodellers which Douglas had previously raised.
Commenting, Douglas said: “Last year I wrote to the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority after meeting with members of Dallachy Aeromodellers Club who build and operate unmanned model aircraft and were concerned the previous proposals were too heavy-handed and would be prohibitively expensive for them.
“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.
“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.
“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 spokesman for Dallachy Aeromodellers Club said they were grateful for Douglas’s support over the issue, stating: “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 (SAA) have completed the on-line 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.”