Drones banned from prison and airports
(CNS): Privately owned small unmanned aircraft (SUAs), or drones as they are more commonly known, have been banned from within three nautical miles of the airports on all three Cayman Islands and from within one nautical mile of Northward prison by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands. The CAACI issued a formal direction Monday in order to reduce the risk of collision with planes and for security issues at the prison, where government drones are being used as part of its fence security.
“The need for these restrictions arises from the explosion in the international sales of unmanned aircraft generated by the advent of miniaturised technology, light-weight materials and cheap manufacturing processes, which make them a very affordable commodity,” the CAACI stated. “They are purchased and operated as toys rather than aircraft, often without due regard to the possible consequences of flying them in the very confined environment of an island community reliant upon its aviation links for both survival and development.”
The authority said there had been a significant increase in the use of drones around Owen Roberts International Airport, the hub of the Cayman Islands aviation industry.
“The risk of an incident or accident caused by the impact of an SUA with a conventional aircraft or its ingestion by a jet engine increases proportionally,” the officials warned in a release announcing the implementation of the ban in the restricted zones.
While there have been no reported incidents involving planes and drones in local air space, there has been an increase in near misses in other places, including in the US and Europe, and the CAACI said the direction was issued to avoid the risk a potential incident.
A three nautical mile zone will be established extending out from the perimeter of Owen Roberts International Airport (Grand Cayman), Charles Kirkconnell International Airport (Cayman Brac), Little Cayman Aerodrome / Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman), and a one nautical mile zone extending out from the perimeter of Northward Prison (Grand Cayman).
People who contravene the Direction are liable to prosecution.
I honestly believe these islands are governed by dictatorship. What our government haven’t considered that not many Caymanians can afford golf memberships, 20 foot boats, flight lessons wine collecting, etc…..there won’t be anything for the poor people to do.
Ban drones from over prison …haha they done start using the drones to get their drugs in Northward Prison….
drone legislation but still cannot change speed sign on wb road after 3 years…..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…..#wonderlandstuff……
What exactly is the benefits of flying these drones to the island/ drone owners anyway? It all seems like a silly waste of time. While we are discussing the airport and it surroundings I wonder when some one in government will seriously take a serious look at the huge collection of old cars piled up along side Jose ‘s gas station. I understand that the owners of these old cars are cutting them up for scrap metal . I wonder if the mere fact of cutting up metal and the sparks that tend to emit from such does not pose a serious threat to people gasing up their vehicles bearing in mind that huge gas tanks are located underground. Suppose a spark causes a fire there could that also endanger planes on the runway as well as cars driving on the road. Besides being an eyesore I think it is a disaster waiting to happen. Minister Kirkconnell do you think this is worth looking, into.
To some flying a kite is a “silly waste of time. To others diving is a “silly waste of time”. Still others say the same about fishing. People have been flying RC airplanes as a hobby for years. A drone is just another type of RC aircraft. Do not be quick to judge what others do as a pastime or hobby.
What do you think about the old cars along side Josie’s gas station, is collection scrap metal on the main road also a nice hobby ?
7:48, whilst I agree with you that the pile of scrap metal is unsightly at José’s, I am sure you can also agree that talking about it on a blog about Drones is hardly going to get you anything in terms of action from Moses. Perhaps try directing this to the DOEH or why don’t you go across the road from José’s to the RCIPS Traffic Dept. and voice your complaint there?
Been there, done that. I guess the drones are more important.
At least it keeps them off the streets.
Well, it is a job for some. Real estate, tourism… and more all benefit from the footage taken by drones.
Funny, we seem have lost just about every notion why staycation tourists and foreign home owners alike are coming here. They come here to chill out and enjoy whatever tranquility is left here to enjoy in an attempt to get away from the noise and crowd pollution they come from. After we started allowing jet ski’s, motor cycles (of which many drivers are now dead), boom boxes in cars etc. etc., now we have to deal with drones as well? This is like allowing green iguanas to come here and then blame the animals for the mayhem as it has totally spun out of control. The same will account here, the drones may not be the initial problem, it’s the people that own and operate them (Assuming they know how).
Over reaction by the Government? I really don’t think so!
I can’t believe we have to deal with those load jets flying in all the time to the airport. They are loader than the jet skies, maybe they should dot be allowed either by your reasoning.
Most drones make less noise than a mosquito.
The noted arguments are even sillier than the drones themselves and even more so very selfish all things considered so, go ahead, make your day and hope you may not be held liable for accidents that will be incurred, sooner or later regardless of the partial ban now in place.
Oh Bobo now dem der ganja drops gona stop.
Another example of CI government idiots making decisions that make no sense. We all agree that there must be laws to protect aviation, and security at the prison, I am a pilot, and I fly drones, so I get it.. but seriously, one mile and 250′ would be a reasonable restriction, and people would be much less likely to just ignore this naïve knee-jerk ruling.
It will not matter where you fly them be a use nobody enforces the laws and the RCIP are clueless about the laws so they use the ones they had from their native country instead.
I bet that the company that is leasing drones to the prison , if they get a contract to operate within a mile of airport, they will get permission to fly the drones . The restrictions sounds to be all about safety . Something is really wrong with the Cayman Islands Government.
Why would the prison be leasing drones? Why don’t they buy the drones and have staff trained? Is the leasing company tided into the lodge or is this just another one of the deals that the PPM is famous for?
This is an absurdly restrictive policy. This means that the entire GT district which includes all of South Sound, George Town, Prospect, Spotts, Savannah, and half of Seven Mile (past Governours) is restricted. Are you really going to arrest someone getting aerial shots of turtles on Spotts Beach? Have you ever even seen a jet in half of these places?
This is funny, why not just make the distance 1 mile and the drones can’t fly over 250 ft. The rest of the world allows up to 500ft. 250 ft would be fine.
I’m now screwed, I can’t fly mine in prospect just for fun over our canal.
Bunch of donkeys.
Oh who is going to police this, the police? Aren’t they busy enough!!!!
No drones within 1 mile of prison, but the prison can operate drones for surveillance. Do it take 2 person to do the surveillance this way ? 1 to control the drone , 1 to watch the video screen, plus these drones would be leased , what waste of man power and money .
When all the prison has to do is install 4 cameras at each side of the prison with 4 screens in the security room. There goes more money than sense.
This is unnecessarily prohibitive, basically includes the whole island. Why not do 1.5 miles and then a height restriction for the other 1.5 miles?
Are there no buildings more than one story between Countryside and The Great House? A one mile no fly zone around the airport makes sense and then a 150 foot altitude limit with the 3 mile zone. Typical government over reaction!