Mid-Hants imposes drones ban

The Mid-Hants Railway is warning enthusiasts not to fly camera-carrying drones on, or within 50 metres of MHR property, following an incident at the railway’s ‘War on the Line’ gala in 2015. Echoing national concerns that the carbon-fibre rotor blades of remote-controlled ‘quadcopters’ can act as lethal cutting blades, the MHR is issuing the warning as an integral part of its publicity for all galas in 2016. MHR Managing Director Colin Chambers explained to Steam Railway: “We had somebody flying a drone over a crowded platform at Alresford during our ‘War on the Line’ gala in June, which broke the Civil Aviation Authority’s rules on the low-flying of drones. If the operator had lost control, we could have been looking at a very serious injury, or even the death of one of our visitors. “He had approached one of our junior porters, and unfortunately was told that it was ‘OK’ to fly the drone, though clearly it wasn’t. I was amazed when I looked out of my office window - and saw this thing looking back at me. We have issued clear advice to staff and volunteers with the aim of preventing any recurrence.” The MHR had given permission to fly drones in a number of cases to professional film crews - but in each case had to first conduct a risk assessment. The Watercress Line MD admits that the 50m ‘no-fly zone’ will be difficult to police or enforce, particularly if drone operators are in fields next to the line, but he has urged pilots of ‘civilian drones’ to use their common sense, not to trespass on farmland beside the railway, and observe the CAA dictat that drones should not be flown within 50m of any person, vessel, vehicle or structure, or 150m of what the authority defines as ‘congested areas’. Civilian operators must observe a 400ft altitude ceiling (to avoid conflict with air traffic), and keep their drones in sight at all times. Toddler Oscar Webb from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, lost his right eye in November after being hit by a ‘civilian’ drone being flown by a family friend.