After the drone chaos at Gatwick Airport, Manx authorities have clarified the situation here.

Regulations to restrict the flying of drones near to the airport and the prison were laid before the December 2018 sitting of Tynwald and will come into force on New Year’s Day.

Collin Gill, deputy director of civil aviation, said: ’There have been a number of high profile safety events outside the Isle of Man where drones have come into close proximity to airliners.

’The consequences of a drone colliding with an aircraft could be catastrophic.

’While in the Isle of Man we have no reported incidents of any close encounters between an aircraft and a drone, it is essential to be proactive and to put in place reasonable and measured regulations to ensure the appropriate protection of aircraft and the general public.’

The exclusion zone around Ronaldsway spans an area between Grenaby farm, Santon head and Colby and includes the whole of Castletown, Scarlett and Langness.

That means the restrictions cover the whole of the Southern 100 course.

In order for drones to operate legitimately in the restricted area, the Isle of Man Civil Aviation Administration (IOM CAA) will, where appropriate, issue permissions, subject to the agreement of airport chiefs.

Drones are also not permitted near the prison.

Drones that weigh less than 250 grams are not considered to be a significant risk to full size aircraft and are in effect very lightweight toys, the CAA says.

It says that the prohibition of sub-250 gram ’small unmanned aircraft’ would be a disproportionately restrictive measure.