A Court in Nancy is prosecuting a young man because he filmed the city with a UAS . The video was posted on YouTube and has been viewed more than 400,000 times. The authorities became interested and he is now being sued for “endangering the lives of others”.
A first in France: Thomas Nans, a young 18-year-old from Nancy was questioned by police for producing a music video with images of the old city. The young man, still in high school, is nicknamed a “teen-entrepreneur” because he has already created two companies: one in communications, the other, Golox, specialises in the rental of cameras and unmanned aircraft systems.
Late January, under a beautiful blue cloudless sky, he fitted a GoPro camera to a UAS and flew over the Ducal city. He filmed breath-taking images: the old town and the famous Stanislas Square from a new angle, skirting along the most beautiful façades. Once online, the video clip created a buzz: 400,000 views in two weeks. A great publicity stunt for the very young entrepreneur but his joy was short-lived.
Rumour has it that it was an angry competitor who alerted the authorities. Thomas received a warning from the civil aviation authority. And then last Monday he was hauled up the gendarmes. Because young Thomas has clearly ignored two laws from 2012 which govern the use of remotely piloted aircraft.
Operators must undergo training similar to that of aircraft pilots and get a special permission when they want to fly a UAS over urban space. “For leisure use, a prefectural authorisation is essential. Such use poses risk of injury as has happened recently in Spain” said General Damien Stribig, of the Air Transport Police.
Several comments on YouTube suggest:
“Instead of prosecuting him they should use the film as an advert for travel to Nancy! What a gorgeous place! What a well made video! “
Source: France Info