Well, I finally got round to doing just that.
The NT website lists a number of reasons for banning drones in bullet point format. Some are perfectly reasonable, some, it seems to me, a little less so and indeed contradict the Drone Code. For example, they state:
Drones should not be flown over people; as much of our land is open access we cannot guarantee an area, even if remote, is completely empty
which is not what the Drone Code says at all.
More than happy to post my email, if anybody wants me to, but it does go on a bit!
I concluded with a few suggestions:
- An outright ban is hard to enforce, so better, especially for open areas, a controlled usage policy which people are more likely to abide by
- Over open land, use that policy to enforce/discourage anti-social flying and wildlife-aware flying
- The NT already has a policy of “before hours” tours and suchlike, for which they charge a small fee. We did an art tour last year at Upton House - normally, I’m not one for really looking at the art work (heathen) but it was actually really interesting and brought the works to life. Other houses and places of interest charge a nominal fee for photographs - not a bad way of raising much needed funds. One of my suggestions was that the NT could combine these two ideas - open early for a “drone special” and charge a small fee. the only problem would be the weather, of course.
The Trust has replied in, I think, a positive way:
Thank you for your email regarding our drone flying policy, in which you pose very reasonable challenges to our existing position
They go on to say that they intend to review their policy, though they will wait for the government’s white paper on the use of drones, and the associated amendments to the Air Navigation Order, due in the spring. Makes sense - no point in doing something that might immediately have to be changed because of new legislation.
We’ve exchanged a few more emails since, and they’ve said:
When it comes to our policy review it would be useful to have a user or group available to answer questions
for which I seem to have volunteered us (or me at least).
So, no overnight changes, but it all sounds quite positive.