Calgary man first to be fined for flying drone in Banff National Park

For Danny McEachren, it was one of those glorious December days skating on Two Jack Lake, perfect for a photo and video untilhis passion for the perfect overhead shotresulted in his becoming the first personfined for flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)in Banff National Park.

"It was one of those days where you have crystal clear ice maybe sixinches thick, and youcan see right to the bottom of the lake," said McEachren, in an interview on theCalgary Eyeopener.

"You catch that maybe once every fiveor sixyears," he said. "I wanted to take some footage and capture some memories."

Unfortunately for the Calgary resident who was dressed inan Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid jersey one of the very next memories he'd have wasa park warden askingwhat was in his backpack.

Two complaints

Apparently, two skaters had called in complaints to the Parks service that someone was flying a drone in a national park, which is illegal without written permission.

McEachrencopped to the warden that he was flying the drone, thinking he'd get off with a warning.

Instead, the warden wrote him up, necessitating a court appearance.

The fine for illegally flying a drone is up to $25,000.

"I pled guilty," McEachren said."I mean, I was guilty."

The judge, McEachrensaid, was a bit fuzzy onlegal precedents, but it turned out someone in Jasper had been convicted of using a drone to shoot video of wildlife.

The judge fined McEachren$500.

Rules available online

While McEachrensays he was unaware that he was forbidden from flying his drone, park warden Steve Anderson says the rules are clear, and unambiguous.

"There is no recreational use of drones by visitors or residents," Anderson saidin an interview with CBC News.

"The rules are available online," he said. "They're quite easily found, which is probably where a lot of people look for that sort of thing.

"Inany new area that you go into," he said, "it's incumbent upon the user of any particular activity or equipment to understand what limitations if any may exist in any new area they may go into."

McEachrentook issue with being singled out, saying to CBCNews.

"I found it frustrating that big companies can use drones in the National Park like Brewster's, theFairmont Chateau Hotel, Sulphur Mountain and movies but they come down on the little tourist guy that wants personal footage with friends. Check the Fairmont Chateau's Instagram from a month ago. There is a drone video."

Approval decided on case-by-case basis

"Anyone wishing to use a UAV must submit a written proposal to the superintendent," Anderson said."Those are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. And within the proposal,you need to clearly indicate how the intended use of the UAV supports the management of the park."

McEachrenmay be the first visitor or residentcaught, but it turns out he's hardly the first person who thought Banff was a great place to fly a drone, according to Anderson.

"We've had multiple reports of drone use in the park," Andersonsaid. "In 2017, we had 87 different files [reports of people]using UAV's.

"We do see it fairly frequently," he added, "Andthe public are certainly encouraged to report all UAVuse they see to Banff Park dispatch (403) 762-1470 is the number. That's how this file came to us. The description of the UAVpilot or user and any vehicle associated with it are helpful."

In other words, don't come around southern Alberta illegally flying a drone wearing a Connor McDavidjersey, because you will be caught.

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With files from the Calgary Eyeopener