1. What are the regulations in Finland for flying drones near power lines?
Flying near power lines is not directly prohibited by the EU Drone Regulation. However, flying or falling must not pose a risk to critical infrastructure.
Fingrid and some local electricity companies have applied for restrictive airspace zones around substations and power plants, as well as around harbour areas, for example, to restrict unmanned aviation.
2. Can flying drones cause disruption to electricity distribution?
Drones come in many sizes, and so the potential damage they can cause to electricity distribution ranges from zero to severe.
A typical consumer imaging drone is made of plastic, weighs less than a kilogram, and is about 60 centimetres wide from motor to motor. If dropped in a suitable place, it can be used to cause a short circuit, but these devices can be interpreted as relatively low risk.
A heavier drone designed for professional use can be 1.5 metres in size, with carbon fibre motor arms. Such a drone poses a more significant risk because of its weight, and the carbon fibre structure can cause a short circuit.
3. How can the flight of drones be controlled?
Control can be a challenge. Consumer drones weighing more than 250 grams are required to have a remote identification system that transmits the registration number of the drone operator, the drone’s position, altitude, speed and direction of flight, and the pilot’s location. This identification information is freely receivable via a mobile phone application.
However, it is still perfectly legal to fly older drones that do not have this remote identification requirement.
There are also more effective solutions for monitoring drone activity, such as the Sensofusion detection system.
