Wed, Feb 17, 2010
Seems The Authorities Were Operating Without The Authority
A UAS owned by the Merseyside
Police has been grounded until its operators can be properly
licensed, thanks to a law that went into effect January 1st.
The Merseyside police used the UAS, which set the city back a
little over $63,000, was used just last week to catch a car thief
in near zero visibility. The aircraft is equipped with thermal
imaging technology which allowed it to track the car thief as he
ran from the stolen car through one of England's classic fogs.
But the BBC reports that a law that went into effect on January
1st requires that the Civil Aviation Authority license all aircraft
used to conduct surveillance missions. The law had previously been
restricted to UASs weighing more than 15 pounds. The also
need permission to fly within 164 feet of people and about 500 feet
from buildings. The CAA said any breach of the new law would be
"treated seriously."
"Since the force has known of the
change in regulations all Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) flights
have been suspended and will remain so until the appropriate
licence has been granted," said a Merseyside police spokesperson.
He said the CAA is welcome to inspect the UAS at any time, and to
observe how it is operated.
The police force has been operating the UAS since November,
before the law changed. The CAA says it is in the early stages of
its investigation, but it does have the authority to fine the
person operating the aircraft illegally.
Meanwhile, the two men nabbed in connection with the car theft
made bail shortly after their arrest.
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