Get up to speed with rules when gifting drones

PEOPLE have been warned that drones are not a give-and-forget Christmas present, as several important safety regulations need to be observed.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) says parents must teach their children about drone safety after the presents are unwrapped.

Drones can pose serious risks to people, property and aircraft if not flown safely.

Fines of up to $10,000 can be imposed for breaches of the drone safety regulations.

CASA director of aviation safety Shane Carmody said teaching children to stay safe in the skies with a drone was easy.

“The key drone rules are really simple – stay more than 30 metres from people at all times, never fly within 5.5 kilometres of major airports, never put aircraft at risk, keep your drone in your sight at all times and stay below 120 metres.

“CASA wants everyone to have fun with their drones but we need to make sure the safety rules are followed.

“Parents and carers have a responsibility to teach their kids about drone safety and to supervise flights until it is clear the kids know how to fly safely.

“Don’t put others at risk this Christmas by just giving a drone and forgetting about safety. Drones and safety go hand-in-hand.”

Australia’s drone safety rules have existed since 2002 and are designed to protect other people in the air and on the ground.

CASA notes that the rules it has highlighted only cover aviation safety, and that depending on where you are flying, other rules may apply, enforced by local councils, national parks or state-based government organisations such as environmental agencies.

For example, drones must not be flown within 500 vertical metres or within a 500-metre radius of whales under the Wildlife Marine Mammals Regulations 2009.

In August, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning announced it was investigating an incident near Torquay of a drone breaching this minimum distance.

For more safety information, head to droneflyer.com.au and download the “Can I Fly There?” drone safety app.