Before the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) denounced deputy Francisco Pulgar (Independent, PDG), for using a drone in the middle of a forest fire in the Teno commune, in the Maule Region.
The overflight operated by the parliamentarian would constitute a “reckless and illegal action, since it puts the air operation, the different aircraft assigned and operating in control of that fire, at serious risk,” according to details from Conaf.
“It is our duty to denounce and express our concern about the violation of a regulation that frames the use of drones in forest firefighting tasks, as a potentially serious event that could even end with fatal results,” they said from the state agency.
And they added: “It is striking that a parliamentary authority ignores the regulations and, even more, endangers the lives of many people, even going as far as violating people’s privacy, beyond the sensationalism produced by the use this type of unmanned aircraft”.
According to the deputy, he only used the drone when the fire was contained, in order to provide images to firefighters who were still in the area. “I know the regulations, restrictions and authorizations that exist and I tell you that Mr. Gascón (Conaf director in Maule) in an intemperate manner, denounces me because I mention that I have a drone in the truck and he does not even know the type of drone that I have, neither the grammage nor to whom I give the message, and that testimony can be given by the Firefighters,” the deputy said, in conversation with the newspaper La Tercera.
