The Press – 2nd October 2015 | Drone paranoia

Recent negative publicity over drone use is causing legitimate professional drone users cause for concern.  A growing sense of “hysteria” about drones has led to suspicion and open hostility toward their operators.

In recent months, drone users have reported verbal abuse, threats and, in one case, a machine was destroyed by members of the public.

Jared Waddams, a Christchurch-based professional drone operator says negative media attention surrounding drones has led to suspicion from the public.

It comes after negative media attention about drones,  formally known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which have landed on power lines, crashed into a pub, and allegedly followed a woman home from a dairy.

Drones hit the headlines again last week when a commercial pilot reported a near miss with a machine in Kaiapoi.

It is understood authorities are investigating the possibility it was a fixed-wing search and rescue craft or a microlight, not a drone as initially reported.

Carl Sheppard was with his fiancee and daughter, taking photos for a client, when he was berated by a woman who accused him of spying on her.

Drone operators say they are wary after being increasingly challenged about their activities.

When professional drone operator Jared Waddams works he dresses formally to put the public at ease.

He is a licensed operator and his company, Helicam Pro, has had clients including the Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.

Peter Perrim, co-founder of Southern UAV Enthusiasts, said several of the club’s members had faced public backlash.

But his credentials meant nothing to members of the public.

“There have been quite a number of cases where people have gone quite aggro and said ‘you ‘re spying on people’ and things like that,” he said.

A “building hysteria”   was fuelled by negative media reports that lumped together rogue hobbyists and professionals, he said.

“There are irresponsible hobbyists. There always will be.

“But there are people who drive their cars nicely on a Friday night, and then there are boy racers who break the law. Saying you’ll ban high-performance cars is not something you do.”

Professional operator Colin Aitchison said a once carefree hobby had become tense in the last year.

The curious public had become more hostile.

“If I am just out flying for fun I will go as far away from built up areas as possible so I don’t have to deal with any irate know-it-alls,” he said.

He acknowledged there were some irresponsible users, but privacy concerns were unfounded.

“Once people start to understand that a drone flying around at 100ft or so can’t show you in any detail whatsoever due to the wide angle lens they won’t feel as ‘watched’, I guess.”

In July, Waikanae’s Aaron Wagstaff had his $1700 drone stomped on by Simon Done, who accused him of using it to spy on people. Done was sentenced to community service and reportedly said he was standing up for people’s privacy.

In another case, Christchurch operator Carl Sheppard was berated by a woman in the Port Hills for spying on her.

The “uncomfortable and upset” resident interrogated him while he was taking photos for a client, he said.

“I think she thought I was just doing it for fun … I said to her that it’s sad and disappointing that people are so paranoid about this. Why would I want to be spying on you?”