An increasing number of drone users are being busted flying in breach of aviation rules in the ACT, and the regulator is set to catch even more using new surveillance technology.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said of the five infringements issued by the authority in Canberra since the start of 2016, three had come in the first three months of this year. All involved private operators.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority remotely piloted aircraft systems inspector Simon Denby with the new surveillance technology the authority is using to monitor the illegal use of drones. Credit:Civil Aviation Safety Authority

The three 2019 offences – hazardous operation in Civic, operation over 400 feet in Reid and operation within three nautical miles, or 5.5 kilometres, of an aerodrome at Mount Ainslie – all attracted a $1050 fine.

The other two infringements – flying over a populous area in Parkes in 2017, and operating a drone within 30 metres of a person not associated with the operation in Reid in 2016 – resulted in fines of $900.