The UK public is still unaware of the Law’s regarding drone use. ‘Report it … don’t tolerate it’ – that’s the latest crucial message from the Drone Safe Register, the recently launched company that is bringing safety awareness to the drone industry.
Its latest initiative is to actively encourage members of the public to bring illegal operators, unsafe or dangerous drone flying to its attention. By getting involved with ‘Report-a-Drone’ the public can hopefully help make the skies safer for everyone in 2016 and beyond.
Mark Boyt, Managing Director of Drone Safe Register “As the weather gets better there will be more drones taking to the skies, filming events for example. I am keen to remind the public that flying a drone for financial gain is illegal and is not acceptable within the skies of the UK. I would encourage the public to use our ‘Report-a-Drone operator’ reporting facility to provide us with information about those people who may be flying in a manner which puts the health and safety of others at risk.
The information you supply will be analysed and then any appropriate action can be taken by us notifying the appropriate authority, this will hopefully help us to make a difference to the number of people who are putting members of the public in danger and at risk. Licenced drone pilots have professional training and carry correct insurance for commerial use.
He continued: “People generally flying drones more often than not do not know the risks created by flying at inappropriate speeds or heights, using them in public areas, not paying complete attention to the CAA rule book. We use a number of ways to target illegal drone operators once they have been reported, our team will compile a report then contact the appropriate authority for them to take whatever action they deem necessary.”
Kevin Watson, Operations Director DSR said: “We do expect complaints to include a number of situations such as invasion of privacy, a large number could be related to postings of videos on social media such as YouTube and Vimeo etc, everyone can help make the skies safer by going to http://dronesaferegister.org.uk/report/ when they see inappropriate, illegal drone flying.
As the popularity of this industry grows, it is great to see these initiatives being launched.
Here are five ways you can make our skies safer for everyone:
1. Don’t ignore it – help the targeting of irresponsible flyers before they cause an incident.
2. If it’s completely safe, take some digital pictures of the drone flying and report it.
3. It only takes a few moments, when you are at work or home to visit the Drone safe register to record your anti-social flying information.
4. Tell all your family and friends about ‘Report-a-Drone’. The more people who are thinking about safety in the sky, the better.
5. Go to http://www.dronesaferegister.org watch the short video to find out more about safe flying.
Drone Safe Register is an independent company based in West Sussex. DSR an online solution for those wanting to hire qualified UAV pilots, this website has been developed to assist qualified pilots in finding work along with promoting the image of the drone industry.
Source: Press Release
While I appreciate the need for safe flying and have about a decade and a half experience with RC flight, I’m also concerned about the uneducated public turning my sport into an endless hassle with the uninformed, and now, apparently, law enforcement. The recent hysteria about drones has already resulted in confrontations for my with passerby who are convinced any flying is unsafe or an invasion of privacy even when my aircraft are flown in a perfectly safe manner in safe places and I don’t even have a camera on board. I’m already getting sick of this after an accident and incident free career of safe responsible flying.
While i appreciate the concerns about safety and privacy and completely understand them, this program looks tailor made to not only catch some irresponsible flyers, but also to demonize and set up responsible flyers for endless harassment by the uninformed.