Dublin Airport has launched a safety campaign aimed at drone users.
Signs indicating that the airport is a ‘no drone zone’ have been mounted on the airport’s perimeter fence, and also detail how it is illegal to operate one in the vicinity of the airport. This is due to the risk of a drone colliding with an aircraft or being ingested into the aircraft’s engines.
Pat Bracken, Dublin Airport’s chief police officer, commented, “Safeguarding the airfield is a key priority for us. Drones are becoming an increasingly popular way to film the countryside, but they can cause serious damage to an aircraft. We have been working with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) to keep the airfield safe from drones.”
All drones over 1kg must be registered with the IAA, which encourages drone operators to familiarize themselves with the rules for drone operations so they are flown safely.
“It’s essential that the public understand that drone activity is prohibited from taking place within the vicinity of an aerodrome for safety reasons,” said Ralph James, the IAA’s director of safety regulation.
“There have been a couple of incidents of people using drones close to Dublin Airport, which have disrupted operations and drone users need to be aware of the rules for the safe operation of drones.”