The Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI) is warning the general public about the unauthorised operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA), as it poses a threat to the safety of air transport and aerial work operations. Recent reports suggest that there has been a significant increase in the operation of SUAs on Grand Cayman for recreational and commercial use, particularly in the George Town and Seven-Mile Beach areas and in the vicinity of the airport. Such operations pose a high risk of an incident or accident that may be caused by the impact of a SUA with a conventional aircraft. SUA operators are reminded that in addition to aircraft taking off and landing at the airports, there are also low altitude aircraft operations involving the MRCU spray plane and the RCIPS and CIH helicopters.

The purpose of this press release is to draw the attention of owners and operators to the legislation covering the operation of SUA in Cayman Islands airspace.   The legislation is provided in Article 73 of the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories)     Order 2013, as amended. A link to the said legislation is

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/2870/article/73/made

It should be noted that SUA operations for commercial purposes (Aerial Work) requires a Permission issued by the CAACI. Permission may be granted after the operator has been assessed as being competent to provide such a service in a safe manner and has adequate third-party liability insurance in the event of an accident or incident occasioning damage to property or injury to persons. Currently, the CAACI has not yet granted Permission to any SUA operator to conduct Aerial Work operations.

Any person who contravenes this provision of the Order may be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding CI$3,400.00.

Enquiries concerning the content of this press release should be made, in the first instance, to the Director of Air Navigation Services Regulation, telephone 1 345 949 7811 ext 242 or email [email protected]

IMAGE: www.worc.ac.uk