REGINA – As the technology around drones becomes more sophisticated and more affordable, the use has become something of a hobby.
Derek Kanak owns Remote Control Hobbies and explained that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS) come in all shapes and sizes, with all kinds of bells and whistles.
“They’re huge because normal everyday people can buy flying helicopters and take pictures. Stuff you can’t normally see,” he added.
UAVs are now more affordable than ever. You can drop thousands of dollars, but you can also be piloting one for less than $100.
Joe Barnsley is an aviation lawyer with Pitblado Law in Winnipeg and believes the increased accessibility requires stricter rules and regulations.
“There are no rules for the safety of vehicle itself. There’s no rules for the training of pilots, for maintenance for the organizations that adopt that, so all the stuff that’s in place for traditional aviation still needs to be developed for drones,” he explained.
South of the border, drones were banned from over 400 national parks in the US after a tourist crashed one into a hot spring.
Privacy concerns have been raised about drones.
For example, in Vancouver, police have also responded to a number of complaints of UAVs hovering outside high rise condo buildings.
Barnsley has confidence current laws in the Criminal Code already address those concerns.
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For recreational uses, there are general airspace guidelines including rules around weight and height for flying UAVs in Canada.
Martin Eley is the director general of civil aviation for Transport Canada and explained that a UAV safety campaign is meant to educate operators on their responsibilities.
“Basically if it’s not for the recreational or the model piece, it falls under the regulations for UAVS,” he explained. “So those two things are not lined up today and that’s part of what we’re working on.”
There is, however, a sense of urgency to develop cooperative guidelines with other countries, as the technology continues to evolve.
For example, online retail giant AMAZON announced it’s working on drones that will deliver packages to customers at home.
Plus, Cirque Du Soleil is unveiling an entertainment show of sorts involving drones.
Important to note that in Canada, operators can be fined if they’re not flying safely.
Since 2012, TRANSPORT CANADA has launched 29 investigations involving UAVS, but Eley trusts a crack down on users can be avoided if everyone follows the rules for a safe flight.
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