‘Drones are real threat to air display’ - Flying display director
The flying display director for the Guernsey Air Display has urged islanders to be aware of the threat that drones pose to the display.
Barry Neal was reacting to a Magistrate’s Court case this week where a man from the UK was fined £4,500 and had his drone permanently confiscated, for flying the drone in the display area above the harbour during last year’s display.
This year’s takes place on Thursday 13 June.
‘It is important that everyone realises the consequences of drone flying during the display and why we ask for it not to be done,’ said Mr Neal.
The court was told that ‘anything could have happened’ as a result of Iurie Vahniuc flying his drone from North Beach car park, during what he thought was a break in the display.
Mr Neal said that there had been the potential for the display to be cancelled.
The legal permission he has from the director of civil aviation to run the display requires him to suspend it if there is any drone activity in the vicinity. For a display team like the Red Arrows, this could be anywhere in the Bailiwick.
Mr Neal said that last year’s display was disrupted, but recovered through the goodwill of the Navy Wings Seafire shortening its display and the Red Arrows cutting back its five-minute ‘buffer’ normally in place before team displays.
‘I ask that there is no drone flying during this year’s air display and in future years,’ he wrote in a letter published in page 13 today.
‘As well as being dangerous, it could cause a major disruption to people’s enjoyment of the display. After all, that is why the Air Display Foundation puts it on. We have a great line-up for you this year, let’s make sure we get to see it all without any hiccups.’
