$2,000 Fine After Drone Flew Near Avalanche Helicopter at Lake Louise

Park wardens in Banff National Park seized a drone on Jan. 17, 2025, after an unauthorized flight near Lake Louise overlapped in time and airspace with a helicopter conducting avalanche control, a case that Parks Canada says underscores the growing safety risks posed by recreational drone use in the mountains.

Members of the public reported a drone preparing to take off near the lakeshore despite posted “no drone” signage. Wardens responded and observed the operator landing the aircraft. The drone, controller, and memory card were seized, and the pilot was charged under the National Parks of Canada Air Access Regulations.

At the same time, Parks Canada was flying a helicopter in the area to carry out avalanche control. The aircraft, with staff on board, passed through the same airspace within about 30 minutes of the illegal drone flight.

A subsequent search warrant allowed wardens to examine the drone’s microSD card. GPS data and video confirmed that the drone’s flight path geographically overlapped with the helicopter’s route. Investigators also determined that the operator had no Parks Canada permit, had not registered the drone with Transport Canada, lacked the required pilot certification, and had flown beyond visual line of sight.

The operator later pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. The money will be directed to the federal Environmental Damage Fund, which supports conservation and restoration projects.

Parks Canada said the case illustrates how unauthorized drones can force the grounding of operational aircraft, delaying avalanche control, search and rescue, and other emergency responses. A collision, officials warned, could be catastrophic.

The Lake Louise incident comes amid a series of recent drone enforcement cases in the mountain parks. In November 2025, an Alberta court ordered a recreational pilot to pay $5,000 in fines and $1,000 in conservation donations after investigators used social media videos to trace illegal takeoffs and landings in both Banff and Waterton Lakes national parks. That ruling also imposed a one-year park ban and required the removal of the footage and the posting of an educational notice online.

In March 2025, an American visitor was fined $500 for flying a drone in Banff National Park. In a separate case later that year, another recreational pilot was fined $300 for operating a drone near the Icefields Parkway, telling wardens they believed their drone’s geofencing would prevent them from entering restricted airspace.

Under federal law, drones are prohibited in national parks without a restricted activity permit, and penalties can reach up to $25,000 depending on the risk posed to wildlife, visitors, and park operations.

Parks Canada continues to urge visitors to report illegal drone activity to park staff or Banff Dispatch.