Drones spooking West Auckland locals

Drone pilots have been illegally flying over the West Harbour and Westgate areas, despite the airspace being controlled by the Air Force.

Local resident Cindy Romero recently encountered a drone flying over her West Harbour home.

“There was a drone flying over my house and as I was putting my daughter in the car it stopped and kept roaming above,” Mrs Romero said via Facebook

Mrs Romero wasn’t the only one who noticed the phenomenon. Another resident, Michelle Hutchinson, posted on a community Facebook group that she too had be bothered.

Miss Hutchison was informed of a drone flying around her Massey home by a neighbour.

“We have been very suspicious of neighbours since we were told. My 12-year-old was terrified and wanted to sleep elsewhere. We felt very violated,” Miss Hutchison said via Facebook.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was unaware of any incidents that had occurred in West Harbour/ Westgate area.

CAA senior communications advisor, Philippa Lagan said via email, “people who are concerned about drones flying over them without permission should contact local police immediately or they can report an aviation safety or security concern that may include complaints, or allegations of suspected breaches of civil aviation legislation by calling 0508 4SAFETY (0508 472 338) or email isi@caa.govt.nz.”

Miss Hutchinson was told by the CAA they could track the drone if she could get the address of the user, which Miss Hutchinson thought impossible.

Auckland Council stipulates drones may be used in public places and parks managed by the council, however users of drones must follow CAA rules.

According to Airshare, the whole area of Massey and West Harbour is controlled airspace, some of which is military controlled airspace. This means flying a drone in that area requires permission from the Administering Authority, so for the Westgate and West Harbour area, permission would be required from the Air Force.

This Airshare map displays what areas of Auckland is controlled airspace, as well as airspace that is controlled by the military and airspace close to aerodromes.

The red/purple area (see illustration) covers zones managed by Air Traffic Control, which go down to ground level. The green area is a military operating area and the blue circled area indicates a 4km radius around aerodromes.

From the map, the West Harbour/Westgate area is both a military operating area and within 4km of an aerodrome.

According to CAA rules regarding drones and other Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), operators must not fly in military operating zones without consent from the administering authority, but Part 101 of the rules also stipulates operators must not fly closer than 4km from any aerodrome.

The CAA also requires consent to be obtained when flying over property and people. Operators must not use airspace above people unless they have the consent of people below the flight and they must not use airspace above an area of property unless prior consent has been obtained from the occupiers or owners.