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Despite deploying over 20 teams to track an unmanned flying object that disrupted flights at the Delhi Airport for two hours last week, the Delhi police couldn't find its operators.
Security experts claim that it is 'herculean task' to nab the drone operator near airport due to fast moving traffic and several wedding venues where drones are 'illegally' used to film aerial shots.
However, it is believed that most drones sighted by the pilots during landing and take-off are the ones used by wedding photographers.
An unmanned flying object that disrupted flights at the Delhi Airport last week
These drones are hired to capture a bird-eye view of weddings that take place near the airport. Airport officials claim that every month, nearly 6-7 cases of pilots getting distracted by different objects are reported.
The restriction of flying drones has hit the photographers as many resorts that are hotspot wedding destinations are based in the vicinity of the airport and flights are at a very low height there.
The agency banned the use of drones for commercial purposes in October 2014. It came out with a draft policy for operations of drones in April 2016, which brought some cheer for the industry.
Mail Today found that despite a ban on aerial photography through drone in the airport area, wedding photographers are willing to take risk for extra money.
Most drones are those used by wedding photographers for aerial shots
This reporter called wedding photographers in Delhi and NCR and asked for a cinematographer for a wedding at a posh venue near IGI airport.
Almost all photographers claimed that flying drone is restr icted in such venues, and yet most of them agreed to use the drone for extra money and a few other conditions.
'Flying drones is banned in the farmhouses located near IGI Airport. We can do it for you but it will cost more than the regular fee,' said a Rohini-based wedding photographer.
His service came with a rider that could only film aerial shots for a maximum of 40 minutes during the evening time. 'I will have to dismantle it after every 10 minutes so that does not get tracked. We will charge Rs 35,000 (£420) for one function,' added the photographer.
Some photographers cited surprise police raid, giving examples of how this month police seized a drone which was being using in one wedding. Some agreed to take the bird eye-view with the drone on the condition that they won't take it above 40 feet. Some also requested not to disclose the use of drone to anyone.
'There are mechanisms that can check unidentified flying objects. But tracking it on the ground is a problem as it has the capacity to fly at a high speed and can be easily taken from one place to another due to its high range, while the tracking team will take time to reach. In most cases in the past, investigation hit a dead end,' said a senior security officer on condition of anonymity.
Delhi Police have strictly asked all the venues near the airport to restrict the usage of any items that can create hurdles in air operations.
'We have given instructions to all venues to tell their customers in advance that flying drones is illegal. Our police teams patrol the venue and even inspect them during the wedding season,' a senior Delhi police official said.
Source: Drones over Delhi cause pilots problems as air travel is disrupted for over two hours last week as police blame wedding photographers
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