THE commanding officer of HM Naval Base Clyde has urged people in Helensburgh and Lomond to report instances of drone use close to Faslane and Coulport.
The plea, from Commodore Donald Doull, follows recent media coverage of drone activity near Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
Thousands of people were stranded when drones were sighted near Gatwick earlier this year, while a separate incident saw planes grounded at Heathrow, the world's second busiest airport.
And the Ministry of Defence Police launched a probe after a report of a drone sighting in a prohibited area near the naval base at the end of 2018.
Commodore Doull said: "HM Naval Base Clyde, the Dockyard Port of Gareloch and Loch Long, as well as other military lands in the local area, are protected by Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) no-fly zones.
"Consequently, it is an offence to fly a drone in these areas without prior authorisation from the CAA. Anyone considering operating a drone for work or leisure, should ensure they do so responsibly and in compliance with CAA regulations."
Information for non-commercial users is available at
www.dronesafe.co.uk, while the
Drone Assist mobile appprovides up-to-date information on no-fly areas.
Both services are cponsored by the CAA.
Commodore Doull added: "While this guidance is specifically for drone users, I would also encourage those in the Helensburgh and Lomond area to help identify instances of drone use close to either the Naval Base or RNAD Coulport by calling the MoD Police on 01436 655765."
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