Police warning after increase in drones spotted flying within Hawarden airport restricted zone

Police have issued a warning to the public about the dangers of flying drones in the Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ), following an increase in drone sightings in the area around Hawarden Airport.

Drones flying in the FRZ can pose a significant safety risk to air traffic, potentially leading to accidents and causing injury or fatalities.

Legislation was introduced in 2019 to extend ‘no-fly’ zones around airports.

The legislation saw no-fly zone around airports increase from 1km to 5km and gave police greater powers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

At the furthest points of the Hawarden FRZ extends to Platt Land in Pennyfford, close the A550, parts of Higher Shotton and Queensferry, The Lache and the A540 Parkgate Road in Chester. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Hawarden, Sandycroft the River Dee from Garden City to Westminster Park in Chester,  Higher and Lower Kinnerton most of Blacon and Sealand all sit within Hawarden Airport FRZ.

Those who ignore the rules could face hefty fines and prison sentences. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In addition to safety risks, flying drones in FRZ can result in legal consequences, including fines, drone seizure, and prosecution.

To help avoid these risks, authorities have offered some useful drone safety tips for drone pilots.

The first safety tip recommended by authorities is to always check airspace restrictions before flying a drone.

There are several apps and online resources available that provide information on FRZs and other airspace restrictions.

The second safety tip is to keep drones within visual line of sight and never fly beyond an altitude of 400 feet or 120 meters.

This helps to ensure that the drone stays within a safe distance of other air traffic and avoids the risk of a collision.

The third safety tip is to make sure that drones are in good working condition, with a fully charged battery and updated firmware.

Drones that are poorly maintained or have outdated firmware can malfunction or crash, posing a safety risk to both the drone pilot and others in the vicinity.

Finally, authorities urge drone pilots to respect the privacy of others and be mindful not to endanger people or animals during drone operation.

This includes avoiding flying over private property and taking care not to disturb wildlife.

The warnings and safety tips issued by authorities serve as a timely reminder of the dangers of flying drones in restricted airspace.

Drones can provide great benefits in a wide range of applications, but it is important for pilots to exercise caution and responsibility when operating them.

By following these safety tips, drone pilots can help to ensure that drones are used safely and responsibly, and avoid the potential risks of interfering with air traffic or causing accidents that could lead to injuries or fatalities.