A Calgary man is being criminally charged for flying a drone in the flight path of aircraft near the Calgary International Airport. Syed Gohar Haider Shah, 25, is being charged with one count of interfering with a navigation facility to endanger the safety of aircraft.

Police said this is the first time charges of this kind have been laid in Calgary.

According to Transport Canada’s guidelines, drones can’t fly within nine kilometres of airports, no higher than 90 metres above the ground and at least 150 metres away from people, buildings and vehicles.

“He was within the airspace of the Calgary International Airport,” said Sgt. Colin Foster. He added that the aircraft “come down to 200 feet and the UAV can fly at 500 feet so the potential for catastrophe was there,” said Foster.

Foster said that after realizing he was being watched, Shah attempted to leave the park in a vehicle containing the quadcopter, but was stopped by the police.

Foster didn’t detail what Shah was doing flying a drone so close to the airport, but they have ruled out any potential act of terrorism. “All the checks have been made and there’s nothing to indicate that,” Foster said.

Canada is working to update its drone regulations in 2016 with new safety guidelines and stricter rules that require licensing, training and registration. Transport Canada has published a list of Do’s and Don’ts on how to fly drones safely and legally.

[Source:] Calgary Herald