Community
19 September, 2023
Know the rules about flying drones or face consequences
MANY people enjoy flying drones in our beautiful Far North Queensland skies, but it’s important to know how to use a drone responsibly to avoid flying into any trouble.
There are rules in place that cover recreational drone use that are designed to keep drone users – and others in the community – safe.
The rules say you must not fly your drone higher than 120m above ground level, and you must keep your drone at least 30m away from other people.
Drone users must only fly during the day and they must be able to see their drone with their own eyes – rather than through a device or screen – at all times. You should not fly your drone during any emergencies including fires, storms and floods – as this has the potential to hamper the work of emergency services.
More generally, the rules say you must not fly your drone in a way that creates a hazard to another person, property or aircraft.
There are specific rules that apply to using a drone near a controlled airport.
For example, drones weighing more than 250 grams are banned from flying within 5.5km of an airport.
It’s also important to respect people’s privacy and ensure you don’t record or take photos of people without their consent.
For more details on the rules, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has published a comprehensive list on its website.
If you plan to fly your drone for business or as part of your job, there are extra rules that apply, and you’ll need to register your drone.
Penalties can apply for drone users who don’t follow the rules, ranging from a formal advice or warning, to a fine of up to $1565 and operating restrictions.
If you want to make a report of unsafe drone use, you can do so via an online form on the CASA website.
Photo or video evidence, as well as information about the person controlling the drone, may help with any investigations into a potential breach.
Kristyn Lennon is a Cairns-based lawyer who heads Maurice Blackburn’s Tablelands office. This legal information is general in nature and should not be regarded as specific legal advice. If you have a legal question you would like Kristyn to answer you can contact her at klennon@mauriceblackburn.com.au
