11th July 2009
Responding to UAV Fly Zone Consultation
Do you want to comment on the establishment of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) fly zone over West Wales?
You must do it before July 28th 2009
Here’s how…
Download a form from the Welsh Assembly website in MS Word format or PDF Format.
You can see the three possible Fly Zones zones and the fourth option “None of the Options” by downloading this document and going to page 4. The maps are reproduced below.
UAV Fly Zones – the options
Choose which of the four options you prefer and give the reasons. You might wish to highlight issues such as:
- Privacy: The European Convention on Human Rights makes public organisations responsible for not invading our privacy. The UAV’s carry powerful cameras for surveillance, monitoring and reconnaissance exercises. WAG have not given assurances that they will act within the law on this issue.
- Lack of information on use of zone: The consultation does not give any information about how much of the flying will be military and how much “civilian”. People cannot therefore make an informed choice between the options if they support one, but not the other.
- Noise: UAV’s are relatively slow moving and noisy. They can stay airborn for up to 40 hours. They range in size from hand-held to passenger jet. Noise levels will vary greatly and although some levels have been indicated, their duration has not. We know that up to 25 flights a day will be allowed, so it is quite possible that several UAVs could be using that airspace simultaneously on any given day.
- Safety: The Welsh Assembly hasn’t done a safety assessment of UAV’s flying in the zone and put it before the public. We have not been told of how often UAV’s crash or about any known fatalities on the ground.
- Inadequate Consultation Process: The WAG consultations have been poorly advertised and signposted on the day. The turnout has been very low as a result – just tens of people attending the 5 hour events.
- Human Rights Abuses: UAV’s flown at Parc Aberporth have been used in the targeting of civilians during the Israeli attack on Gaza in 2008-9. The consultation does not explained the process by which Parc Aberporth will be ensuring future compliance with International Law on this issue.
Options section of consultation form
Having printed out your form and filled it in, then please post it to
ACP Consultation Secretary
Welsh Assembly Government
Department for the Economy and Transport
Ladywell House
Newtown
SY16 1JB.
To arrive before 28th July 2009
