– The police blocked the road in front and behind me, like in a Hollywood movie. I couldn’t go forward or backward. This is how tromsøværing Babang Deshommes describes the experience when he was stopped by the police on Tuesday last week while he was on a drone mission in Narvik. Before this, a car had been following him for some time, stopping about 200 meters behind him every time Deshommes stopped to film for the commercial he is working on. – Then I was prepared for something bad to happen. I started to get nervous, but when the police walked towards me and we started talking, it was actually a pretty good chat. He spent an hour explaining who he is, what he does and showing his papers. – They thought I was Russian. I don’t think I look Russian, says Deshommes, originally from Haiti. Drone pilot Babang Deshommes had to explain that he was not Russian when the police stopped him at work. Photo: private Suspicious drone activity The police in Nordland confirm that they received a tip about suspicious drone activity, and that a patrol went out. – It is not usual for people to fly drones in that area, says operations manager Lars Halvorsen. Police across the country have received many tips about drone activity recently. The police in Western Norway said last week that they receive many unnecessary drone messages. Now they are asking for more specific tips. Several tips have indeed turned out to be the planet Jupiter. – We do not want tips about absolutely everything that flies up in the air. Considering drone ban Recently, the police have arrested seven Russian citizens for photographing and flying a drone in Norway, including Anglo-Russian Andrej Jakunin. Now the Ministry of Transport has asked the Norwegian Aviation Authority to consider a possible ban on drones in Norway. – In a situation where there is an increased focus on unwanted drone use, it is natural that we look at several different options for better control. The Ministry of Transport is now assessing the feedback from the Civil Aviation Authority in consultation with, among others, the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness. At present, we cannot say when these assessments will be ready, says Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård to news. The ban should not affect businesses and authorities that depend on drone use to carry out important tasks. Babang Deshommes says that 95 percent of his working day consists of flying drones. If a longer national drone ban becomes a reality, the drone pilot thinks he may have to find a new job. – I understand that it is about safety, and I understand why this is happening. But we haven’t found the solution yet. – Not the way to go Anders Martinsen, general manager of UAS Norway, the interest organization for the drone industry, is very much against a drone ban. Among other things, because drones are used when inspecting bridges and other infrastructure, and during rescue operations. – We have become dependent on drone technology for socially beneficial purposes. It is very difficult to understand that the desired effect is achieved with a drone ban. After all, it doesn’t hit those you really want to hit. He believes that criminal and unreasonable use of drones would not be affected by a drone ban. – Banning drones is not the way to go. Anders Martinsen, general manager of UAS Norway, believes that a drone ban will only affect those you do not want to affect. Photo: Anders Martinsen / UAS Norway He believes that the existing regulations should be used in a better and more efficient way before a possible ban on drones is introduced. – What we have done is to initiate three concrete measures which we believe will help to improve control over who flies drones, where they are and at the same time ensure that those who need greater insight into critical infrastructure can get it. Among other things, he wants a national vessel register for drones, to get an overview of who owns which drones. – This means that we know which drones are in Norwegian hands and which will fly in Norway. Going to call the police In 2020, Deshommes won the award for best drone video in UAS Norway’s photo and film competition. After he was stopped by the police, the drone photographer chose to call the police directly when he was due to fly a few hours later. He intends to continue with that. – It is a new time we live in, so I will definitely continue to call the police before I fly. If someone calls, the police will know that it is me who is flying.
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Drone photographer Babang Deshommes fears consequences for his job – news Troms and Finnmark
