[Peetwo]

Update to Senate Drone Inquiry -  

Three additions to the drone Senate Inquiry submissions:

70 Regional Express (PDF 114 KB) 


71 Australian Miniature Aerosports Society Inc (PDF 69 KB) 


72 Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (PDF 417 KB) 

Today Binger picked up on the Pilgrim (OAIC) submission:

Warning over drone stalking
12:00amMITCHELL BINGEMANN

Privacy commissioner Timothy Pilgrim has warned against drone-related stalking, harassment and unlawful surveillance.

Privacy and Information Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim has fired a warning over laws to de­regulat­e the commercial oper­ation of remotely piloted aircraft, saying they could lead to an ­increase in drone-related stalking, harassment and unlawful surveillance.

The warning was laid out in a submission to the Senate committee investigating the safety implic­ations of the new rules that allow commercial operators to fly without a licence drones weighing less than 2kg.

While acknowledging the economic opportunity and increas­ing relevance of drones to business, government and indiv­iduals, Mr Pilgrim said remotely piloted aircraft also posed significant risks to privacy, given their capacity to freely man­oeuvre through airspace with little account­ability.

“Privacy risks presented by drone use range from inadvertent privacy breaches through the collection of personal information, such as photographs of individuals and their activities, to potential conduct that meets criminal-offence thresholds such as stalking,” he said.

Mr Pilgrim, who heads the Office of the Australian Inform­ation Commissioner, said the agency would support increased training and education to inform drone pilots of their responsibilities and to protect the privacy of individuals.

Drones have become a popular tool of paparazzi, who flout privacy rules to snap pictures of sunbathing socialites and cel­eb­rities’ houses from outside the property limits.

&..from REX submission 70:

Rex would like to recommend the following points:

1. Requirement for a comprehensive monitoring and oversight of RPAS operations for

any operations that operate beyond CASA’s standard restrictions. Rex consider that

it is incumbent upon CASA to ensure the safety of air navigation and therefore must

ensure effective oversight and control of RPAS operations. Rex considers that RPAS

Operators that are certified and subjected to an independent audit oversight regime

may pose an acceptable risk to commercial air transport.

2. That consideration be given to the establishment of an effective drone violation

reporting system encompassing recreational RPAS operators and commercial

airspace users. This information is currently not available and could assist airline

operators to identify airspace that may pose hazards to aircraft in respect to reported

unlawful RPAS activities.

3. With the expected continued advancement of RPAS technology and increased

activity levels, a risk-based approach to regulatory framework including technical,

safety and operational requirements will need to be implemented. This includes the

individual registration of ownership of RPAS, as we believe this would act as a

deterrent to illegal or dangerous RPAS activities, allowing a path for traceability.

4. Airborne collision aviodance systems (such as TCAS) have a proven risk control in

the prevention of mid-air collision. Therefore if RPAS operations occupy the same

airspace as commercial air transport operators then the fittment of transponder type

equipment should be mandated. ADS-S transceivers that weigh less than 5000 gms

are available to RPAS operators.

The five pages of the AMAS submission 71 is also worthy of purview but what intrigued me the most was what the AMAS under 'Any other related matters'... :

i. Any other related matters.

Refer d. and, It has been the experience of this Society when engaging with the CASA that the reactive and mostly unhelpful attitude and mostly lack of professionalism does not lend itself to the CASA aligning with its regulatory philosophy and more seriously aviation and public safety. The extent of this 'apathy' has bordered on and has been lead to complaint. (correspondence available on request). It is that persistent characteristic that concerns the Society and its ethos regarding aviation and public safety. In conclusion, the AMAS Inc., as a recreational organisation will continue to work with our members and all parties (those parties that proactively seek integration) to promote a safe environment for all and live up to our motto
"Get up and fly" and “Safety is no Accident”

The Australian Miniature Aerosports Society Inc formerly requests an opportunity to address the senate committee regarding matters within this submission...

Hmm..that sounds familiar??  

While on drones, coming out of WA their is a couple of articles dealing with DFES issues with UAVs and fires, plus a current SLSWA trial with shark spotting drones:

SLSWA are using drones to patrol beaches, DFES say they could be a hazard
January 15, 2017 2:35am
Drones were being trialled by Surf Life Saving WA at City Beach this week.

REMOTELY piloted eyes in the sky have started flying above Perth beaches to spot sharks and other ocean hazards — and the early verdict is swimmers already feel safer.
However some emergency services believe they are more a hindrance than a help.

Surf Life Saving WA this week started a three-month trial of high-definition camera-equipped drones at popular beaches in Perth and the South West.

The battery-powered drones were seen flying above swimmers and surfers at Floreat and Cottesloe beaches yesterday and will be monitoring Mullaloo and Scarborough beaches from above today.

Smiths Beach, Meelup and Bunker Bay, as well as Sorrento and North Cottesloe, will also be on the drone radar.

SLSWA lifesaving contract manager Peter Scott said feedback was already positive.

“We are looking for sharks but we are also looking at assisting lifesavers with being that extra set of eyes to identify hazards such as rips and people who might be weak swimmers,” he said.

No sharks have been spotted by the drones since an $88,000 State Government-funded trial started at City Beach last weekend and at Cottesloe on Wednesday.

The drones won’t necessarily be first spotters of sharks but if any of the 13 drone pilot volunteers sees a shark, they will immediately radio patrolling lifeguards.

The five DJI Phantom 4 drones can be used to verify reports from members of the public, possibly avoiding beach closures.

“In this trial we’re trying to get as much flight time as possible so we can evaluate their effectiveness,” Mr Scott said.

Once the State Government-funded trial ends in mid-February, SLSWA will continue with its own trial until the end of March before reviewing whether to continue with the program.

Yesterday morning, City Beach was closed after a possible 2.5m shark was detected by a “clever buoy” in the second day of an eight-week trial of the technology. At Floreat Beach, 13 teenage boys competing at a surf carnival were plucked from the water by inflatable rescue boats and jetskis after another shark detection.

Surf Life Saving WA

The clever buoy system uses sonar technology to create a virtual shark net, detecting sharks outside the surf zone and immediately alerting authorities and beach users.

It comes as new research suggests the popularity of Perth’s beaches has started to recover from a severe slump three years ago.

In 2013-14, just 43 per cent of Perth residents polled by Roy Morgan said they had visited a beach that summer, compared with 56 per cent in 2009-10. Last summer, that number bounced back to 50 per cent.

Premier Colin Barnett said the spate of fatal shark attacks in WA had “understandably frightened people”.

“Now with the aerial patrols in place operating over extended periods, the beach enclosures and increased resourcing for SLSWA, people are probably regaining some confidence,” he said.

LIVES AT RISK

DFES aerial bomber pilot Julian Chatfield with a drone. Picture: Steve Ferrier
THE surging popularity of drones is putting residents and firefighters at risk during bushfires, with water-bombing aircraft grounded if a drone is seen flying in the area.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is so alarmed by the increase in drones being flown in the skies over WA it will launch a campaign today warning amateur pilots of the risk of flying the craft anywhere near a bushfire or where water bombers are filling up.

Pilot Julian Chatfield, who has doused bushfires as a helicopter pilot for the past seven years, including four summers in WA, said a drone would “bring down a helicopter”.

“You’re most concerned about blade strike, in particular a drone striking the tail rotor blade,” he said. “The helicopter would spin and become uncontrollable and you would crash.”

To date, drones have not hampered firefighting efforts in WA, but in New South Wales they have caused a stir for affecting several emergency responses to floods.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority estimates there are tens of thousands of drones in use across Australia.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the number of remotely piloted aircraft accidents and incidents had increased from 14 between 2006 and 2013, to 37 from 2014-2015.

Drone pilots caught breaking CASA regulations face fines of up to $9000.

---

DFES urges drone users to not become a firefighting menace
16 Jan 2017, 10:52 a.m.

The increasing popularity of drones in Western Australia has prompted the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) to issue a reminder to the community not to unwittingly halt firefighting efforts this bushfire season.

No drone zone: Drone users could face penalties of up to $9000 for flying drones near bushfire areas.

The increasing popularity of drones in Western Australia has prompted the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) to issue a reminder to the community not to unwittingly halt firefighting efforts this bushfire season.

DFES  Assistant Commissioner Gary Gifford said drones had proven to be popular Christmas gifts in recent years, but few were aware that flying them near a bushfire could result in firefighting aircraft having to be grounded or redirected for safety reasons.

"Flying drones near a bushfire could create a dangerous situation not only for the pilots, but for the firefighters on the ground and the public,” Mr Gifford said.

Assistant Commissioner Gifford said firefighting aircraft operate in one of the most challenging environments imaginable.

"They fly at around 200 kilometres per hour, often manoeuvring in poor visibility, close to each other and to the ground and other obstacles such as trees, radio masts and power lines,” he said.

"Even a small drone colliding or obstructing a bombing aircraft could have catastrophic results.

"If we see a drone we will be forced to ground our aircraft, which would seriously hinder efforts to bring a fire under control.

"There have already been a number of close calls in the Eastern States this season, with aircraft having to be redirected because a drone was in the area. We don’t want to see this happen in WA.”

Drone pilots caught breaking Civil Aviation Safety Regulations face fines of up to $9000.
Assistant Commissioner Gifford reiterated the importance of keeping a safe distance from firefighting aircraft when they are picking up water.

"We need the community to keep a safe distance away to enable the aircraft to do their job, and I urge people to never stand under the flight path of approaching or departing aircraft, especially at areas where they are refilling with water as this can be very dangerous,” he said.

If you see someone operating a drone or remote controlled aircraft near a bushfire, report it to the nearest firefighter or to WA Police on 131 444.

For more information about the dangers of flying drones near bushfires visit the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) website at casa.gov.au.

MTF...P2