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TO WATCH AP’S INTERVIEW WITH THE AVIATION WATCHDOG, SEE THE VIDEO ABOVE
At one UK retailer alone, 10,000 drones have been sold over the past year, according to the UK’s aviation watchdog.
Separately, Bloomberg reports that online retailer Amazon shifts 10,000 of the unmanned aerial devices a month, globally.
Perhaps the soaring demand is not surprising, given that some drones now cost less than £40.
The aviation watchdog has warned of the legal consequences for drone operators who breach regulations as the devices become more affordable and accessible. The CAA admits, however, that it can be difficult for regulators to identify and catch anyone who breaks the rules.
In an exclusive video interview with Amateur Photographer (above), the CAA outlines the rules enthusiasts must abide by, following reports that a UK photographer was arrested for using a drone over Christmas and news that a drone narrowly missed a passenger plane at London’s Heathrow Airport last year.
Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police warned that drones are being flown illegally around London landmarks, such as the London Eye and Tower Bridge.
And, just this week, a drone crashed into the grounds of the White House in the USA.
In the Amateur Photographer interview, the CAA spells out the strict safety-distance rules currently in force in the UK, plus where it is safe to fly a drone and what to avoid.
The interview appears in the video above.
