CAPTURING the Port’s natural appeal in photographs and videos is not a new phenomena.
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But what is new is that the Port Stephens appeal is now being captured from above with drones. However, it appears drone hobbyists may be unaware that they cannot legally fly their machines in the Nelson Bay area unless they have a licence through the aviation authority.
“This area is really difficult for private people because we are in a military zone,” drone user Jackie Dujmovic said.
“Residents can’t fly near a heliport or aerodrome, and unfortunately the [oval] the Westpac helicopter lands near Diggers is a heliport.
“Flying can’t be done in a 5.5km radius around that. That means the whole peninsula – Fingal Bay, Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay, Salamander Bay, Corlette – is a no fly zone for anyone who is not licensed.”
Mrs Dujmovic and husband Mark own and operate the Port Stephens-based drone business Hover UAV.
It took 14 months for the pair to be issued a operators certificate through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, plus a letter of agreement from the RAAF who control the airspace around Port Stephens, to be able to operate commercial drones in the area.
They have now been in operation for six months.
With the operators certificate, the Dujmovic’s and their licensed pilots are able to legally fly drones in the Port’s aerospace.
It is not only stunning aerial pictures the Dujmovic’s capture with their drones.
They use them for a whole range of applications, including mapping and surveying.
“For surveying companies, what could take one or two days to survey an area may only take us two hours on site,” Mrs Dujmovic said.
“We take it and do post production with our software and then we can turn it into all the digital surface model and everything they do need.”
With the appeal for drones growing amongst the general public, the Dujmovic’s said it was important that drone owners knew what they were and were not allowed to do.
“What I can recommend for local hobbyists is to download an app called Safe To Fly,” Mrs Dujmovic said.
“On there it explains where you are, if you’re allowed to fly or not for recreation.
“[Drones] are the biggest Christmas present at the moment but there is a lot of confusion in the area. Download something like Safe to Fly or book into a day course.”
