For those who are not aware, on June 1, 2019, Transport Canada implemented important rule changes that are designed to help ensure that people are kept safe, both those flying drones and those who are in the area where they are being used. According to their news release the rules regarding who, where, and how drones can be used apply to: “all drone pilots and drones between 250 grams and 25 kg that are operated within the drone pilot’s visual line-of-sight, regardless of whether the drone is flown for fun, work or research.”
This is great news because it sets standards for those who are involved in the professional use of drones. On the other hand, it also means that, as the Marketing and Communications Officer for Economic Development, I can no longer ask anyone with a drone to just “take a quick photo”, especially in a highly populated area.
Not that I was asking before hand to fly drones around people, but recently there was a situation where I wanted to take some photos of the downtown cores and thought that drone photography might be a great solution. It turns out, it’s a bit more complicated than even I anticipated.
There is good news. After doing some research, I have been able to identify two local Chatham-Kent companies that offer this exact type of service:
42 North Integrated Marketing Inc.
Pat Whalen
519-401-6209
www.42north.ca
Creekview Media
Jeremy Davidson
226-881-0939
www.facebook.com/creekviewmediacanada
Each company is working to acquire, or has acquired, the necessary type of licensing and training needed to handle difficult situations, including understanding how to obtain the permits needed to flying near restricted areas such as airports or Heliports.
It’s important to know that depending on where you need photography and videography work done, there can be time required to get permissions and permits. I highly recommend planning ahead and reach out to whoever will be providing your drone service so they have adequate time to prepare the shots and meet the new rules in place.
Something else I found was one local company that is still in the early stages of preparing to offer this service and asked to not be named yet. Obviously three companies is not an exhaustive list, so if your company offers this service, please reach out to me at andrewt@chatham-kent.ca. You can also add your business to the Chatham-Kent online business directory at /https://portal.chatham-kent.ca/ckdirectory/
I’ve been a big fan of flying drones over the past several years and have had my share of amazing flights, and rather devastating – for the drone – crashes. The vast majority of my flights have been for recreational purposes over large open fields, and if there is one thing that these flights have taught me, it’s that preparation, practice, and safety are essential.
Happy flying,
Andrew Tompsett
