Ashland looks to regulate drones

Columbia Missourian

COLUMBIA — A popular gift hitting the shelves this holiday season might be the next fly to swat for local governments across the United States.

The Ashland Board of Aldermen is attempting to be a step ahead by regulating model aircraft drones, which can be purchased for as low as $30 at major retailers such as Target or Walmart.

The board approved the first reading of the ordinance unanimously on Nov. 17. The ordinance would limit the height a drone can fly to 130 feet, ban drones from within a five-mile radius of the Columbia Regional Airport, and require permission from a property owner to fly the drone over a neighbor's land, acting City Administrator and Police Chief Lyn Woolford said. The height limit was chosen to keep the small aircraft from flying above Ashland's water tower, he said.

"We expect an increase in the number of drones in Ashland not only this year, but as time goes on," Woolford said. "The purpose of the ordinance is to provide some guidelines as (drones) become more popular."

Any city guidelines would have to be at least as restrictive as the current federal guidelines, said Bill Allen, an assistant professor of science journalism at MU. Allen teaches a class about drones called "Drone Issues, Application and Flight."

"I can understand Ashland and other communities wanting to do something about it in the absence of a federal policy that makes sense," Allen said.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration's website, drones, or "unmanned aircraft systems," must:

• Remain below 400 feet

• Avoid any obstacles

• Avoid any manned aircraft systems

• Not fly out of its operator's field of vision

• Not fly within five miles of any airport

• Not fly near any people or stadiums

• Not weigh more than 55 pounds

• Not be careless or reckless, which could be a danger to others

• These rules only apply to those using drones for hobby or recreational purposes. Those who want drones for public or private operations, such as drone use by a police department for surveillance or a business owner seeking to advertise respectively, must follow different processes and regulations.

The Ashland Board of Aldermen decided to address the issue after an anonymous resident turned in a drone he or she found in his or her backyard with a note expressing concern for privacy, Woolford said.

The guidelines are designed to be general so issues with the drones can be addressed individually as they come up, Woolford said.

"You want to work with the residents, but if it became a problem we would go to enforcement," Woolford said. "This is an education process. It may be a moot point; we may not have any issues with these things."

The final vote on the regulation will be 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Southern Boone Fire Protection District Training Facility, 815 E. Broadway, Ashland.