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Drones at Blazing Swan

In recent years drones (UAV’s – Unmanned Vehicle Systems and multi-copters) have become more accessible and popular, Blazing Swan is not unique in the challenges it faces with regards to balancing the community’s concerns on safety and privacy as well as providing a space for people to express themselves through a form of art.

Like mutant vehicles, Blazing Swan regulates all drone usage and requires that they be operated responsibly, are subject to restricted flying and other rules of operation.

Our goal is to ensure the safety of those attending as well as helping to ensure we are considerate of our 11th principle;- Consent.

This page helps to lay out our methodolgy to managing drones, for full information please read the Blazing Swan Drone Policy.

Download Our Drone Plan

Blazing Swan's Drone Plan

Answering Your Primary Concerns

The Safety of Drones

 

Unlike fixed wing aircraft, when unpowered, drones can drop in an uncontrolled manner from the sky, and doing so from any vertical distance could cause injury or damage to strutures or vehicles could occur. As such, ensuring that our approved drone pilots follow the specified legisation on keeping suitble and safe ‘horzintal’ distances between their drone and others is vital

Reporting Drone Useage

Should you have concerns about a specific drone flight whilst at Blazing Swan, we ask that you speak with a Ranger, or contact Ranger HQ. These will be investigated and followed up by the Fun Police

Applying to Fly

 

If you’re looking to fly a drone at Blazing Swan, then you must have an ARN (Aviation Reference Number) and register your interest and be approved through the Photographers Registration Process.

Some further information is provided below, with full information detailed in our Drone Policy

Drones and Consent

 

We are aware of potential concerns around the use of drones and ensuring consent whilst participants attend Blazing Swan.

When in flight, drones create a recognisable and easily identifiable noise. Publically available drones do not come with large zoom cameras and the quality of the images captured are not at a point where individuals can be zoomed in on (in photo editing software) and be identified without the individual being aware that a drone was near them.

When footage/images are captured where an individual can be idenitified from drone footage/images, the individual will be aware, due to noise, of the drone.

We instruct our approved drone pilots fly at a suitable and safe flight distance (currently the minimum set by legislation) from the participants of Blazing Swan, therefore helping to protect an individuals right for anonymity. We also have had Theme Camps in the past request they are no-fly zones and currently our policy instructs that General Camping is a no-fly zone.

Additional Information on Drones

Legislative Control

 

In Australia, including Western Australia, the use of drones is legislated through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Blazing Swan recognises that the use of drones represents both a safety and consent issue for the event and as such, our Drone policy looks to set out how the useof drones will be regulated on site during the event.

Blazing Swan drone operators/pilots will follow the legislation as defined by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Regulations 1998, predominantly within Part 101.

These are as follows:

  • Must not fly your drone higher than 120 metres (400 ft) above the ground.
  • Must not fly your drone over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway (without prior approval). This could include situations such as a car crash, police operations, a fire and associated firefighting efforts, and search and rescue operations.
  • Must not fly your drone within 30 metres of people, unless the other person is part of controlling or navigating the drone.
  • Must fly only one drone at a time.
  • If the drone weighs more than 100 grams:
    • Must keep your drone at least 5.5km away from controlled aerodromes (usually those with a control tower)
    • May fly within 5.5km of a non-controlled aerodrome or helicopter landing site (HLS) only if manned aircraft are not operating to or from the aerodrome. If you become aware of manned aircraft operating to or from the aerodrome/ HLS, you must manoeuvre away from the aircraft and land as soon as safely possible. This includes:
      • Not operating your drone within the airfield boundary (*without approval)
      • Not operating your drone in the approach and departure paths of the aerodrome (*without approval)
  • Must only fly during the day and keep your drone within visual line-of sight.
  • This means being able to orientate, navigate and see the aircraft with your own eyes at all times (rather than through a device; for example, through goggles or on a video screen).
  • You must not fly over or above people. This could include festivals, sporting ovals, populated beaches, parks, busy roads and footpaths.
  • You must not operate your drone in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, person, or property
  • You must not operate your drone in prohibited or restricted areas.

Blazing Swan Specific Controls & Requirements

 

The following controls are Blazing Swan specfic to Blazing Swan and are applied on top of the current legislative controls.

  • Required (mandatory) to have an ARN (Aviation Reference Number)
  • Required (mandatory) to register their request to fly at Blazing Swan, currently this is completed through the Photographers Registration process
    • Noting that requesting permission to fly nor having an ARN instantly grants permission to fly at Blazing Swan, drone operators will need to be approved by Blazing Swan Org.
  • Should they be approved – Drone operators are to have their photographers’ identification visible whilst flying and
  • High-visibility vest, or similar, is not mandatory, but is encouraged to be worn whilst flying

The Blazing Swan Drone Policy also provides requirements as to:

  • Communication; pre, during and post flight
  • Flights during the burns are prohibitited
  • Suitable flying areas within JRC
  • Consent
  • Incident Reporting

Download Our Drone Plan

Blazing Swan's Drone Plan

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