2015: The year of the drone

Drones have been hitting the headlines on a regular basis – be it for injuring pop stars or opening up new avenues for businesses.

The Irish fire service is researching the use of the remote-controlled craft, whilst US Soldiers could soon get personal drones called Black Hornets, small enough to fit in the palm of their hand.

More glamorously, chart topper Enrique Iglesias injured his hand trying to catch one he had film a live show this year.

But who is pioneering drone technology in Cumbria and why should I care?

One business that has proved to be a pioneer is Atlantic Geomatics, based at Dacre, near Penrith.

This innovative business is using drones to map out graveyards and cemeteries, targeting the entire 15,000 burial sites across the UK.

Drones could make it possible to track where your ancestors were buried, and transform how churches and cemetery managers update and maintain records - which can be enhanced with additional information such as photographs, eulogies or notes.

Genealogists and historians can search the database to find specific graves by name, date or date range.

The service uses conventional survey techniques and unmanned aerial vehicles carrying cameras to compile the maps, which log details of paths, trees and drainage as well as graves.

The development has already created six new jobs, and this total is set to rise as the project is rolled out across the country.

However with great opportunity comes great responsibility, and some drone owners have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Robert Knowles became a Cumbrian drone pioneer for the wrong reasons last year – becoming the first person convicted in the UK for "dangerously" flying a drone, after he flew an unmanned aircraft over BAE Systems in Barrow. He was ordered to pay more than £4,000.

He said that a radio failure caused the drone to fly in a restricted area, and it wasn’t intentional.

From horsing around to horse fairs, Appleby Horse Fair to be more precise, which will this year be filmed by a drone.

State-of-the-art photography firm Lloyd & Coleman, based in Windermere, used their drone to film Appleby Horse Fair this year, as part of a TV documentary.

You may not be surprised that this is the first time the traditional gypsy and traveller gathering has been filmed by drone, but you might not realise just how many other events the firm has filmed by drone.

The firm already boasts a list of exclusive and intriguing clients.

Director Tom Lloyd said: “The work we are doing is very varied.

“We have been working on filming Peel Island, taking shots of boats sailing from Morecambe Bay.

“We also do a lot of work with estate agents on top end properties, and have worked with professional footballers.

“We have been shooting some aerial footage of The Lakes School for Michael Cumming - a TV director and filmmaker.

“Michael has been asked to make a film to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the school this year.

“We were asked to provide some aerial shots of the school in the context of the surrounding hills and the lake.”

LLoyd & Colman was set up last year by film maker Tom LLoyd, and photographer Russell Colman, both award winners in their own right.

Mr Lloyd added: “The drone was the first thing me and Russ worked on together, because you need a spotter or observer with you.

“The thing is everyone could go out and buy a £50 drone from Maplin and a camera and go out tomorrow, but it’s once you start charging for footage that you need to have the training and use the rules.”

He also explained that using a drone commercially isn’t as simple as sticking a digital camera to a remote control helicopter.

“It costs at least £2500 for the training and insurance, the drone can cost anything from a few hundred to £10,000 but ours is somewhere in the middle.

“You need a remote control wireless transmitter to see the image from the drone, and you can control it with a remote controller.”

Cumbria will be at the cutting-edge of drone technology as the pair welcome world-renowned aerial and GoPro cameraman Lec Park of BBC Top Gear to host a course they have organised at their studio in August.

Mr Colman added: “There is a lot of interest in the use of drones in film making and photography and we hope to be able to educate people as to what is involved and the license required to operate commercially.

“Interest in the use of drones is on the increase and the course is aimed to educate those interested in understanding the steps involved to become a registered CAA license holder. “

Drones: stay out of trouble

• As an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) the person operating a drone must comply with rules published by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
•  There are many regulations but first and foremost operating a drone must not endanger anyone or anything. It cannot be flown higher than 400ft and should never be out of sight, normally within 500m of the on-the-ground pilot. 
• It is illegal to fly over a crowd or congested area from less than 150m horizontal distance – the same applies to restricted airspace – and the drone must stay at least 50m away from anything whether it is a building or person. 
• Subject to the Data Protection Act images of people should never be identifiable. Any operations higher and further than these distances and anyone wishing to use a drone commercially would need permission from the CAA.
•  Users of drones must ensure they stick to the CAA guidelines. If not they could be taken to court. The CAP 722 document sets out the regulations relating to flying UASs. There is briefer version of the same information available. Visit www.caa.co.uk/.