In festivities and celebrations around the globe, traditional fireworks displays have started to be replaced by drones, offering a more environmentally friendly, and less stressful option for both animals and humans with increased sensory perception, but in Elche, the exact opposite has happened, with drones banned for the traditional Nit de l’Albà.
The council has announced the extraordinary measure as an effort to improve safety and will be in effect from 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13, until 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14, where the airspace of the entire city will be subject to a strict ban on drone flights. This regulation has been implemented by the Aerial Media Unit of the Elche Local Police and has the support of the Air Navigation Management Entity in Spain.
The main reason behind this decision is the need to prevent any kind of risk associated with the presence of drones in the air while fireworks are being launched from the numerous terraces and rooftops that adorn the city. During the Nit de l’Albà, thousands of rockets and pyrotechnics are fired into the sky in a spectacle that lights up the entire city, making the presence of drones potentially a significant danger not only to public safety, but also to the integrity of the people enjoying the event, some of whom will already be destined for a night in the emergency department of the hospital as a result of injuries sustained, as is always the case.
Elche Local Police’s Air Resources Unit has announced the activation of advanced drone detection and identification systems during restricted hours. These systems are designed to record and monitor the registration number of any drone that violates restricted airspace. If any violation is detected, those responsible could face severe sanctions, including complaints to the competent air safety authorities.
