Information of TTFLY: Any high hopes for buying a drone for London city hall are likely to come crashing down, with a staff report recommending against it.
The report heads to council’s civic works committee next week.
“Most municipalities actually do have one or two or several (drones),” said city engineer John Braam.
London, however, won’t be among them.
Chief reason is Transport Canada says drones shouldn’t be flown within a nine-kilometre radius of any location — not just airports — from which aircraft operate.
London has four such locations, including landing pads for medical helicopters, which — given the regulator’s do’s and don’ts for drone operations — leaves few areas wher the city could actually fly the remote-controlled, miniature aircraft without restrictions.
“It’s fairly extensive in London, as we have helipads for Victoria and University (hospitals) and, of course, we’re in close proximity to the airport,” said Braam.
Increasingly used in industry, from utilities and agriculture to real estate and advertising, drones have been gaining popularity for their ability to quickly and cheaply provide aerial views and an eye on inaccessible locations.
That’s especially useful for inspecting bridges and construction sites, for example.
“I don’t have a problem with them not purchasing a drone,” said Coun. Harold Usher, who suggested city staff look into it last summer.
“The whole idea for me was not necessarily to purchase the drone, but to identify if there are uses that . . . would be useful,” he said.
Drones not only could be useful to a municipality, but also could save money, said London drone enthusiast Joe O’Neil, who isn’t surprised by the recommendation against buying the city’s own drone.
“I think for the city or any municipality, economically it will be cheaper to contract out the work needed,” to someone who specializes in using drones, said O’Neil, who has taken many photos of London from aloft and posted them on social media.
Drones can be a quick, cost-effective way to get into tough places without putting workers at risk.
But they also can be a hazard to regular aircraft. O’Neil said while it’s still possible to get a licence to fly a commercial drone in the city, it’s a big process to get permits.
The other hurdle is the rules governing drone use, something he said Transport Canada eventually will have to iron out.
O’Neil said he suspects emergency services would benefit from drones for uses like search and rescue operations.
