Forest fire multirotor operator guilty on all counts

Judge Gary MacAskill found Canterbury, New Zealand man Simon Roy Reeve, guilty for filming a forest fire in January of 2015.

The court hearing took three days and was heard by the judge only.

The fire at Pines Beach near Christchurch had manned fire helicopters on task. Although Judge MacAskill agreed that Reeve was not flying during fire fighting operations.

Evidence showed that the drone flew from 3.51pm on January 5, and the helicopter returned to the air with a monsoon bucket at 4.02pm.

Reeve was flying a Phantom Vision 2 and footage obtained was shown on New Zealand television.

Reeve was found guilty of three charges laid by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) – one of causing unnecessary endangerment, the fire flight. Two of flying the drone in controlled airspace without permission. The three flights occurred on different dates.

In his judgement Judge MacAskill noted that the defendant had no reason for creating the danger beyond videoing the fire, and a helicopter being used to fight it, for his own personal interest and to possibly sell it to news media.

He said neither reason provided any necessity for causing such a danger.