Drone operator pleads guilty to endangering BBMF Hurricane

”A man has pleaded guilty to endangering aircraft after flying his drone dangerously close to a Second World War plane last year, in what is believed to be one of the first cases of its kind in the UK.

Mark Bagguley, of Chatsworth Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to the charge before magistrates in Chesterfield on Monday, after the incident during a Battle of Britain memorial flypast in front of 20,000 people at the Buxton Carnival last July.

Mr Bagguley was said to have nearly caused a serious accident after images emerged of the craft flying close to the wing of the Royal Air Force’s Battle of Britain Memorial Hurricane.
 

Following the case, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) warned drone pilots that they must check airspace before flying their craft.

Jonathan Nicholson, assistant director at the CAA, said: “Airspace restrictions, like the one in place for this case, apply to even the smallest drones, so it’s really important that people check before they fly.

“When you use a drone you’re sharing the airspace with many other types of aviation, so it’s vital that drone users consider the safety of everyone when flying.”

The RAF said that it regularly conducted essential low flying training across the UK and that drones operating near these exercises offered a significant threat to its aircraft, as it was extremely challenging for aircrew to spot and avoid drones.

Under CAA rules, drones must be flown safely and legally and maintain separation distances from members of the public, built up areas and manned aviation.

The CAA estimates that there are nearly 300,000 people registered to fly drones in the UK. This is up from an estimate of 90,000 in 2019.”

Drone pilot admits endangering historic plane in landmark court case (telegraph.co.uk)