No Clearance: Illegal Drone Use At Vivid Sydney 2023 Prompts Warnings From Authorities

If you see illegal drone use at Vivid Sydney, you can report to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) here.

This year’s Vivid Sydney, the 1st post-COVID-19 pandemic edition & the 2nd since the pandemic began, from as early as the opening weekend, has seen people bringing & flying drones despite not having approval from CASA, putting at risk helicopters, seaplanes as well as Vivid Sydney’s own drone shows and spectators – all of which are at low altitude. As a result, organisers and authorities are urging people to not fly drones at Vivid Sydney unless you have approval from CASA.

Vivid Sydney 2023 is the 1st ‘Sydney Spectacular’ and year respectively that illegal drone use from people has promoted warnings from authorities.

We are aware some people have brought their drones to Vivid

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

You may not be aware, especially if you’re an international visitor, but Sydney Harbour is not just a working international seaport but a domestic airport as well. Whilst helicopters fly at low altitudes frequently over Sydney Harbour from numerous heliports, whether it is media, medical/rescue/tourist flights or civilians having a recreational flight, seaplanes actually use the Harbour as a runway. Rose Bay is the home & ‘runway’ of Sydney’s seaplanes, which takes tourists on joy flights around New South Wales & is just a mere 4 kilometres from the heart of Vivid Sydney, Circular Quay.

Seaplanes and ‘land’ planes are still the same – they are aeroplanes. They need room to take off and most critically, land, particularly if it is an emergency landing and they need to fly at lower altitudes to do this. All this applies to helicopters as well.

With the King’s Birthday long weekend approaching, when the biggest Vivid Sydney crowds arrive, organisers, CASA & New South Wales Police are urging people to keep drones away from Sydney Harbour unless you have approval from CASA.

Drones aren’t completely banned from Sydney Harbour. You just need to receive approval from CASA. Even if you did get approval, you still have to follow the rules:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-urP2fIJYk8

• You can only fly 1 drone at a time.
• Your drone must be direct visual line-of-sight at all times so you cannot fly via instruments like devices, screens or virtual reality goggles.
• Only fly your drone during the day
• Your drone must be in flight 30 metres away from people (except from the pilot or supervisors) regardless of altitude.
• Your drone must be no higher than 120 metres above the ground during flight.
• Your drone must not be flown behind obstacles, in cloud, fog, smoke or within 100 metres of Sydney Opera House’s Benny The Seal

To extend beyond most of the above rules, you need special approvals from CASA.

There are extra rules when flying over New South Wales national parks such as Sydney Harbour National Parks.

If you’re unsure where to fly your drone, use a CASA-verified drone safety app to find out where you can and can’t fly you drone. Download your preferred app today here.

If you intend to fly your drone for or at work (commercially), you will also need to register your drone with CASA and get a licence/accreditation.

In Australia, CASA follow up reports of illegal drone use, who may advise you on laws and give you a warning. They can also issue fines of up to AUD$1,375 per offence, impose operating restrictions or restrict/cancel your accreditation, licence, certificate, or registration.

For serious offences, such as if you interfere with a drone or your drone becomes a hazard to other aircraft, or if you refuse to pay a fine, CASA may refer your case to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, and you may receive a summons to attend court. If the matter is taken to court, fines of up to AUD$33,300 can be imposed, you could be restricted from flying, convicted of a crime and sent to jail for up to 2 years.

If you did not know, Australia has a national drone detection system at airports.

For more information on drone use, visit CASA’s Drones webpage or the Australian Goverment’s Drones website.

Drone shows were first introduced to Sydney Harbour in 2016 & after a 6-year absence and since 2022, are now an annual feature at ‘flagship’ Sydney Spectacular, Vivid Sydney & other Sydney Spectaculars, Elevate Sydney & Noel Sydney. Vivid Sydney 2023 – Naturally‘s Written In The Stars drone show has been assessed by CASA “to ensure all safety measures and checks are in place”.

In the end, the more non-show drones in the air during Vivid, the more cluttered the night sky would be during Vivid, the less spectacular Vivid will be, the less drone shows there will be at Vivid.

Best advice: Keep the drones at home and photograph from land, watercraft or a non-drone aircraft.

Recreational drones should not be flown at night or in a populous area, such as major events like Vivid Sydney.

Sydney Harbour and surrounding areas are in a no drone zone, without prior approval, due to helicopters and seaplanes that fly at low altitudes in the area. If you’re heading to Vivid Sydney, leave your own drone at home.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Whilst we love to see the public enjoying the sights and sounds – and we appreciate the temptation to gain a bird’s eye view of the spectacular scenery – recreational drones pose a serious safety risk to the public when flown over crowds.

Drones are not permitted to be flown over populous areas, including crowds, beaches, parks, and events such as the Vivid Festival, and the Sydney CBD area.

The Sydney Harbour is a no-fly zone.

Breaching these rules can lead to fines, or even gaol.

We’d prefer that everyone avoids these penalties and instead has a safe and enjoyable time at the Vivid Festival.

New South Wales Police