Jordan McGregor faces court charged with drone flight at Hallett Cove, Morphett Vale

A weekend drone flight has landed a southern suburbs hobby pilot in court where he has copped a fine for his flying.

Jordan McGregor was convicted for flying his drone at Morphett Vale and Hallett Cove. Picture: iStock

A weekend drone flight has landed a Huntfield Heights man in court and cost him more than $1000.

Jordan McGregor, 25, was charged under Civil Aviation Safety regulations after flying his drone at Morphett Vale and Hallett Cove in June 2018.

The Christies Beach Magistrates Court heard the fencing labourer – who pleaded guilty to all three charges – flew the drone outside of his line of sight, too low over a populous area and within 30 metres of two young cyclists.

“The allegations … indicate that you have been flying this drone quite some distance away from you definitely where it would not have been in sight of where you had launched it,” Magistrate Teresa Anderson said.

”The drone travelled over roads where there were cars at quite a low distances, one of them was major four way intersection and also over Lonsdale Road … (and) in the vicinity of Hallett Cove Shopping Centre.

“(The charges relate) to you essentially tailing two young cyclists who were cycling their bikes … and the evidence from the camera was they appeared to be quite deterred by the fake they were being followed by an object.”

McGregor faced the Christies Beach Magistrates Court charged with the drone flying offences. Picture: Kaysee Miller

The court heard the drone later crashed and recovered which led to the charges being laid.

McGregor told the court he was “being stupid” and didn’t understand the guidelines around flying the drone which was a gift from his father.

“They can fly kilometres away from you so I just assumed as a young kid that if these sort of guidelines are in place then why are they able to fly kilometres away out of sight if you need to be able to see them at all times,” he said.

But Ms Anderson said anyone buying a drone should make themselves aware of the restrictions.

“From your perspective you weren’t given any instruction about where you were and were not allowed to fly it but the internet is a wonderful thing and … you could’ve looked on the internet and it would’ve been very clear on what the restrictions were in relation to it,” she said.

“I can accept that you weren’t away what the restriction are because there are many young people who purchase these things and are completely unaware that they’re not allowed to just fly them around residential areas.

“It is important that people that own these drones are fully aware of where they are allowed to fly them and that they don’t put people at risk.”

The maximum penalty for each charge is a $10,500 fine.

Ms Anderson convicted McGregor and fined him $1500.