fined $10,000 for flying drone near forest fire

[Frieda]

Perhaps a few more details in this article. Drone pilot fined $7.4K for flying near a wildfire in Canada

I was curious what the fine would be for general aviation infractions. Here's a page for hang glider pilots, saying it's a $5k fine. Not sure if you can legally fly a hang glider in the park right now. They have been allowing it somewhat, under trial circumstances. The first time I saw a hang glider was in Jasper, a long long time a go.

Forest Fires, Airspace and Rescue Operations – Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association of Canada

www.hpac.ca

 

[kevbac]

So, my question is, is there ANY place at all along the road from Calgary to Jasper Park that a drone can be legally used? We are driving the entire length this summer, staying at Canmore for a base for Banff and Lake Louise (restricted of course). Then there is the Icefield Parkway. Should I just leave my drone at home in Miami? I certainly don't want to get fined $10K.

Dale

A couple of things to unpack...
If your drone is 250 grams or more - leave it home. There isn't currently reciprocity for drone licenses and registrations between US and Canada. And you can't get a Canadian licence if you're a visitor to Canada. That may change, or it may have changed recently, so check the Transport Canada website.
To find out where you are allowed to fly, check the NavCan drone site selection tool. With it, you can check the rules for sub-250 as well as for Basic and Advanced certificates.
Canada's drone regulations are generally much less restrictive than those in the US.

 

[quickcut]

Do US National Parks have similar high fines?

 

[TwoSticks]

Do US National Parks have similar high fines?

Up to $5k US and up to 6 months in jail. You also lose your equipment.

 

[JeffM46]

Glad to hear it. There's enough danger for the firefighters, planes, and smoke jumpers without having to worry about a drone in their path. There have been instances when firefighting aircraft all were grounded and couldn't fight the fire because of idiots flying drones. Fire areas are RESTRICTED NFZ!

 

[Don Testme]

While RID is not active, Drone pilots need to learn to hide their location of takeoff and landing. Make sure officials can't follow your drone to where you pick it up.

Stealth is Health.

 

[karlblessing]

While RID is not active, Drone pilots need to learn to hide their location of takeoff and landing. Make sure officials can't follow your drone to where you pick it up.

Stealth is Health.

Are we advocating violating airspace here, or that LEO would harm you, or both?

 

[PBDawg]

Please feel free to correct me if my information is out of date. . . Here in British Columbia (and likely other provinces/territories) it is illegal to operate a drone from inside a provincial /territorial park, but it is legal to fly over the park. That's because Canadian airspace regulation is the domain of the federal government and the feds can close airspace over federal land such as national parks. Provincial/Territorial parks can regulate activities on the ground inside park boundaries. So, you should be able to fly your drone over a provincial/territorial park if you launch, operate, and land outside the park boundary.

Having said that, do not fly in a way that bothers park users and don't do anything to distract wildlife (which would violate other, non-airspace related regulations).

 

[Don Testme]

Are we advocating violating airspace here, or that LEO would harm you, or both?

I'm a non-police state type of guy

 

[guzewski]

Man fined $10,000 for flying drone near forest fire in Jasper National Park​

Good. Make an example of the bum and publicize it. Put him in the stocks in the town square for all I care.

 

[Don Testme]

Good. Make an example of the bum and publicize it. Put him in the stocks in the town square for all I care.

I wouldn't want to be your neighbor. Freedom or Police state. What is your preferenc?

 

[Frieda]

[Removed]

Nothing to do with that comment, but I see that where that fire was, is the same general area that they closed so the Shuswap Indian band could go hunting.

Part of Jasper National Park closed for traditional hunt | Globalnews.ca

Timeline of fire, has an item about drones causing suspension of helicopters re safety concerns.

 

[Donnie Frank]

I don't know about Canada, but in the U.S. the rule is you can't launch or land in a National Park. You CAN fly over them, as long as you don't launch or land in them. This information is about 5 years old. So unless that has changed....???

Discuss.

D

 

[karlblessing]

I don't know about Canada, but in the U.S. the rule is you can't launch or land in a National Park. You CAN fly over them, as long as you don't launch or land in them. This information is about 5 years old. So unless that has changed....???

Discuss.

D

The exception is wildlife areas, can't fly over those.

 

[Saskflyer]

I believe all the Provincial Parks in BC are restricted too. Not sure about in Alberta, or other provinces.

Its a national park no drones unless approval from Parks Canada.

 

[Dronecation]

Please feel free to correct me if my information is out of date. . . Here in British Columbia (and likely other provinces/territories) it is illegal to operate a drone from inside a provincial /territorial park, but it is legal to fly over the park. That's because Canadian airspace regulation is the domain of the federal government and the feds can close airspace over federal land such as national parks. Provincial/Territorial parks can regulate activities on the ground inside park boundaries. So, you should be able to fly your drone over a provincial/territorial park if you launch, operate, and land outside the park boundary.

Having said that, do not fly in a way that bothers park users and don't do anything to distract wildlife (which would violate other, non-airspace related regulations).

Are the public roads through the parks considered outside the park boundaries and not part of the restrictions? If one takes off from the road and flies through the park without ever landing or technically taking off from the park, is that considered legal?

 

[FlySkyJumper]

So, my question is, is there ANY place at all along the road from Calgary to Jasper Park that a drone can be legally used? We are driving the entire length this summer, staying at Canmore for a base for Banff and Lake Louise (restricted of course). Then there is the Icefield Parkway. Should I just leave my drone at home in Miami? I certainly don't want to get fined $10K.

Dale

There are plenty apps from DJI, B4UFly, and more to find this out.

 

[dgibbphoto]

Can you launch and land outside of the National Park boundaries and fly into it?

 

[karlblessing]

Can you launch and land outside of the National Park boundaries and fly into it?

You can (in the US), but good luck being able to maintain VLOS doing so.

Also while you can fly over National Parks (or even fly/operate within National "Forests"), "Wildlife Areas" are still prohibited from being flown over. So it's possible to have a National Park/Forest that also includes some areas of "Wildlife areas".

 

[Tofino]

The public roads inside the park boundaries are Inside The Park and you cannot fly within the Park. There is no lines that go around any roads inside the parks.