Drone use over Key West curtailed

 

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

It’s a bird. It’s a plane.

No, it’s an unmanned aerial system (UAS), more popularly known as a drone. And it’s something Key West city commissioners want to clamp a lid on.

Commissioners approved on first reading Sept. 16 a new ordinance that limits where drones can be operated. Although the Federal Aviation Administration has yet to issue formal operating regulations, the surge in popularity of the drones for recreational and commercial use caused Commissioner Jimmy Weekley to make a proactive attempt to protect the privacy of residents and visitors and prevent collisions between drone and other aircraft.

“I don’t want a helicopter falling down in my neighborhood,” he said after listening to public comments at the Sept. 16 meeting.

Weekley had met with several people concerned about drone regulation before submitting his proposed ordinance. As a result of those meetings, Assistant City Attorney Ron Ramsingh drew up restrictions that included prohibiting drones from flying over military-owned property, the Key West International Airport and special, city-approved events such as Fantasy Fest and the annual powerboat races.

However, those regulations were tightened after comments made by pilots, including Fred. R. Cabanas, Jr., who operates a sightseeing tour on a 1941 biplane. He argued that drones should not be allowed to fly over city beaches because, although he usually flies his tours about 500 feet off-shore at a height of approximately 500 feet, he sometimes has to descend to 200 feet to cut back to his runway.

“If you’ve got a 20-pound drone in front of you, it’s going to hurt,” he said.

His concerns were echoed by Glenn Culliford, chief pilot for the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District. Culliford regularly flies bi-weekly larvacide missions for the county.

“Our mission is 100 feet or below. We are so low we have to go around the towers, the lighthouse, churches that are sticking up. If a UAS makes contract with our helicopter, there’s going to be substantial damage, not only to the helicopter but to property on the ground and possibly loss of life,” he said.

Peter Horton, Monroe County Director of Airports, commended Weekley and the other commissioners for taking a proactive stance to prevent drone accidents. He recommended that the proposed ordinance include language requiring a drone operator to keep the machine in sight at all times during operation and that it cannot be flown higher than the tallest building in the area.

“Keep it low. Keep it in sight and you’ll satisfy most of our concerns,”

After listening to public comments Weekley asked Ramsingh to remove language allowing drones to be flown over city-owned beaches. That change was cautiously approved by Quincy Perkins, a Key West-based film maker. Perkins had met previously with Weekley to work out a compromise that would balance safety concerns with the commercial opportunities drones are providing for local film producers.

Perkins said he would also agree to drone height limitations in some areas.

“We’re happy to keep the city safe while at the same time allowing this film, commercial and television productions to exist. I feel like we’ve come to a reasonable agreement with all parties,” he said.

A revised drone ordinance is expected to be considered at the next City Commission meeting.

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