Drone users fined for safety breaches, including crashing into Eureka Tower

Drone flyers are being hit with thousands of dollars in fines for breaching safety rules, including two cases of drones crashing into Melbourne’s tallest building.

Drone flyers are being hit with thousands of dollars in fines for breaching safety rules, including two cases of drones crashing into the Eureka Tower.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has fined 60 drone operators so far this year — up from 41 fines in 2017.

MELBOURNE DRONE FLYERS GROUP CRITICISES COUNCIL

WORLD’S BEST DRONE PHOTOS

One man was busted flying his drone over Horsham police station in May.

Another was issued a $2100 fine when his wayward drone smashed into the side of the Eureka Tower in July. That came after a similar incident in January 2017, when 22-year-old Jake Lapham’s drone went hurtling into Melbourne’s tallest building.

The Wollongong uni student was trying to get shots of the sunrise when he lost sight of his $1500 flying machine.

Drones users are on notice over flying in prohibited areas. Picture: Alex Coppel

It automatically tried to return to its launch point but veered straight into the tower.

The drone broke and he was sent a $1080 fine from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

“In hindsight it was kind of stupid on my part and quite risky,” he said.

But he said he expected crashes would keep happening in the city because people were willing to take the risk.

“The footage is undeniably incredible,” he said. “If you don’t know the laws or if you think you can get away with it, that’s pretty tempting.

“Especially coming into Christmas, if you haven’t been studying the laws it’s very easy to be stoked with your new toy and want to go out and fly it.”

CASA spokesman Peter Gibson warned people to be wary of the penalties.

“You might think it’s worth it but it’s thousands of dollars in fines,” he said.

“The equation just doesn’t sound like a sensible one.”

Mr Gibson said drone ownership had skyrocketed but only a minority of users were flouting the rules.

If you’re going to fly a drone, be sure to comply with all laws. Picture: Brett Costello

FEARS DRUGS FLOWN INTO MELBOURNE PRISON VIA DRONE

The authority’s ‘Can I Fly There’ app has had more than 160,000 downloads.

Mr Gibson said they received about 30 reports of unsafe flying per week but it was often difficult to get enough evidence to prosecute.

“The interesting thing is that the number of drones keeps growing but that figure (of fines and complaints) isn’t sort of rising extraordinarily,” he said.

Melbourne Drone Flyers spokesman Phil Dunbabin said there would always be rogue operators but he suspected most fines were for mistakenly flying in the wrong spot.

“Drone flyers are perceived as cowboys,” he said. “That is not the case; the vast majority want to do the right thing.”

Mr Gibson said the most common fines were for drones flying too close to people and in busy public spaces.

[e-mail]