RCMP investigate drone at airport, laws against lasers

A drone is pictured in this undated image. (risteski goce / shutterstock.com)

RICHMOND, B.C. - RCMP and Transport Canada are conducting a joint investigation into a near miss between a drone and an aircraft taking off Vancouver's airport earlier this week.

The pilot of a K.D. Air Corporation plane reported the incident with the unmanned, remote-controlled aerial vehicle on Canada Day.

Sgt. Cam Kowalski says the remote-controlled devices, also known as UAVs, are becoming increasingly common because they're now so affordable and available online or in hobby shops.

Kowalski says that in the most recent case, the drone measured about half-a-metre square and was likely being navigated by someone close to the site.

But he says lasers pointed at police helicopters and other aircraft are equally troubling and there are few regulations prohibiting the use of either device near aircraft.

Kowalski is leading an aviation safety committee that's part of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police to lobby the federal government to enact legislation around laser use that recently led to fines for three Edmonton men.