Drones become growing problem in Finland

The use of guided drones by individuals has become a frequent security hazard in Finland, as police recently reported that two drones were operated unlawfully during the state funeral of former president Mauno Koivisto.

Following the two incidents in Helsinki on Thursday, police apprehended two men, born in 1980s. They were suspected of violating the no-fly zone over key administrative buildings in the downtown area.

Police inspector Heikki Porola told local media that the drones were also suspected of flying over crowds of people. The police said they could use the drones' data storage for proof.

Within a week, two other cases were reported. A drone was flown at high altitude close to a medical helicopter near the Tampere-Pirkkala airport and another near the runways of the Helsinki-Vantaa airport.

Jukka Hannola, a senior air transport expert at the Finnish transport safety authority Trafi, told national broadcaster Yle that complaints increased greatly recently, usually about drones flown too high or near an airport. There were also issues of privacy.

Special permits can be issued for flights in the restricted zones, but for over-crowds-flights amateurs can never get a permit, Hannola said.

Trafi has launched a website (www.droneinfo.fi) with information about permanent restrictions. Information about temporary bans must be obtained separately from air traffic controls.

Petri Pitkanen, the chairman of the security group of the Finnish Pilots Association, told Yle recently that the sector of unmanned flights in Finland is "one of the most liberal in Europe".

There are no official training requirements for drone operators nor a need to register the gadget. Pitkanen deplored that not all infringements get the attention of the police.

Meanwhile for the flights with a pilot, the prevailing rules match the rest of Europe.

The situation may change soon, as European Union level rules are to be introduced. Trafi representatives have said earlier EU-based stricter rules would take effect at the end of 2017, but transition periods of several years may be given.