Regulations may descend on Burbank drone users

On the City Council agenda, it was called a “Primer on Drones,” but City Atty. Amy Albano’s slide presentation was actually titled “Invasion of the Drones.”

Also called unmanned aircraft systems, drones are sensor-equipped, remote-controlled aircraft once considered the domain of spy agencies and war-fighters, but which are now widely available to virtually anyone wanting to fly a GPS-enabled and camera-laden mini-helicopter over their backyard — or someone else’s.

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Now Burbank may take steps to begin regulating the use of the devices by private individuals in order to codify community-based rules, prohibit interference with public safety and protect public infrastructure, private property and production or proprietary interests.

The proliferation of drones has been a cause of concern in recent years for privacy advocates, commercial airlines and emergency-response organizations flying manned helicopters or planes to fight fires, rescue people in harm’s way or transport the wounded.

Pilots are concerned they could damage jet engines or rotors if sucked into them while flying nearby. Others are concerned they could fall out of the sky onto people’s heads or could be used to film or photograph their private lives.

Albano said at least one film studio in the city had expressed concerns about the devices flying over closed sets, apparently trying to get a scoop on details related to productions. She said the city had not received complaints about drones from city residents.

Councilman Will Rogers, who disclosed that he owns a drone, said he’s been approached by both Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. officials with concerns about drone-enabled snooping at their properties and said it would be “foolish” not to consider their concerns, as well as those of Bob Hope Airport officials.

Rachael Warecki, a spokeswoman for the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, said officials were unaware of any incidence between manned and unmanned aircraft at the airfield.

Vice Mayor Jess Talamantes said he called for the report out of concern for safety and privacy and would be willing to proceed with some kind of regulation.

“Really, the whole question came about last Fourth of July when the drones were flying over ... Starlight Bowl,” he said. “I could see them from my house.”

Albano’s report provided a lengthy overview on drone regulations and what Burbank officials might want to do — or avoid doing — to control their use in the city. However, Albano said, “there are more questions, as you can imagine, than answers.”

For example, the courts have yet to weigh in conclusively on drones and other “emerging technologies,” she said. While the Federal Aviation Administration, which is responsible for managing the national airspace, is developing regulations, state and local governments are creating other laws that may conflict with the federal rules, causing more uncertainty.

“One thing we do know is drones are not going away,” Albano said. “We do feel that it’s time for the city to consider regulating the private use of drones.”

Council members directed Albano to bring back a proposed ordinance for them to review, which she said she could do “relatively soon.”

She said part of her concern in calling for some regulation was that there is little legislation at the state level, and drone users may be confused or uninformed about what regulations do exist.

But, she said, regulation and enforcement will not be “an easy fix.”

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Chad Garland, chad.garland@latimes.com

Twitter: @chadgarland

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