CABS drone shot down

T Pace

May 13th 2012, 20:12

Personally I have my doubts as to whether the plane was shot down or its controller simply lost control and stalled i when he turned the aircraft around. Unless this plane was equipped with microphones as well, I wonder how he heard the shots.

Once the law states that the owners of land have rights both below and above ground (without any limit being given), the plane was being used to trespass. No more, no less.

Carmel Vella

May 8th 2012, 17:44

I would love to see Francis Saliba M.D., and Sylvana Zarb Darmanin , have it out on a TV channel. Please bring boxing gloves, and gum shields. I am willing to referee.

Francis Saliba M.D.

May 3rd 2012, 20:18

@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin, Today, 19:29

I understand facts perfectly but your opinions are not facts especially your opinion as to what is legal and what is illegal. I accept the decision of the law court but I bet that the FKNK would only threaten to charge CABS without actually doing anything serious about it.

The confrontation between CABS and the lawless person that shot down its drone camera will have the effect of making it much more difficult for the government to obtain derogations. These lawless hunters, and those who defend them, are the worst enemies of any law abiding hunters.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

May 3rd 2012, 19:29

Francis Saliba, you just refuse to understand facts. This is my last comment in your regard. Try making a distinction between PUBLIC and PRIVATE property and between LEGAL and ILLEGAL activities. Until then carry on with your charade!

Francis Saliba M.D.

May 3rd 2012, 15:49

@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin. today at 12:34.

It is not only the camera on the Cabs drone that films "EVERYTHING". No camera lens is selective - it photographs everything in front of it, wanted and unwanted, in the background and to the side of the main subject. That does not make every photographer on land, sea and air a criminal, who is spying and violating data protection or privacy laws.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

May 3rd 2012, 12:34

Francis Saliba, I based my argument on what I have in my possession, you based yours on presumption! As I have already wrote, we will wait and see. Pity you did not hear Dr Michael Falzon's speech in Parliament yesterday. I again ask you, is it so difficult to comprehend that CABS aircraft was not selective and it was filming EVERYTHING? My, my, a real case of "L-ispizjar milli jkollu jaghtik"!!!

Francis Saliba M.D.

May 3rd 2012, 10:00

!Finally, Sir, I do consider you as a coward. I dared you to be more specific and you shied away!!!!!!" (Sylvana Zard Darmanin, 2 May at 18:47)

Ma'am I have not knowingly shied away from anything and I am convinced that my comments have been very specific. Spell it out, where you want me to be more specific. and I will willingly oblige. I suspect that you are trying to provoke me to stoop down to your level and to start to call you names specifically, just as you are doing now by calling me a coward when I am nothing of the sort. In that case, perish the thought! I prefer to keep to my standards rather than to stoop down to yours.

Francis Saliba M.D.

May 2nd 2012, 20:04

@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin today at 18:47.

You are NOT commenting about the law you are presumptuously trying to impose your brash interpretation of the law on everybody else. That is way out of your competence. Please have the discretion, the humility and the common decency not to try to usurp the function of the judiciary. What you "believe" carries no weight with anybody else. A sentence by the court would be authoritative and binding - not your raging bluster.

I attach no value to your vacillation about my character, thinking that I am not a coward yesterday and considering that I am a coward today. I know that it is a woman's privilege to change her mind but I do think that you are stretching that "privilege" to the extent of appearing ridiculous. You asked me to be specific, without specifying about what. I am convinced that my comments were always very clear and very specific to people with average intelligence. Dont blame me for your lack of comprehension.

CABS were not "recording indiscriminately everybody". They were recording a "scene of crime" to assist the police in crime prevention and possible prosecution of law-breaking hunters and trappers. The independent courts of law have the responsibility and the authority to decide if they were doing so legally or not. Not you! Not the hunter/trappers breaking the law. Not I or anybody else who expect that the hunting laws be obeyed. You may not like that - if so I pity you, but you will still have to lump it.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

May 2nd 2012, 18:47

Francis Saliba, I am commenting about the Law which safe-guards the law-abiding citizen. CABS were recording indiscriminately everybody, thinking they are some kind of authority who have the right to do such thing and harass the normal law-abiding citizen. It is unbelievable how you cannot agree on this. I believe that the majority of the Maltese citizens agree on this. However, you are so blinded by your hate towards hunters that you cannot even comprehend this.

Finally, Sir, I do consider you as a coward. I dared you to be more specific and you shied away!!!!!!

Francis Saliba M.D.

May 2nd 2012, 13:38

@ Sylvana Zarb Adami, yesterday at 14:11)

I do not need to be more specific. I stand by my general statement that: "It is the criminals, wearing the mask of sensitive, shy law abiding citizens, who have every reason to resent being caught out by efficient surveillance methods, that they denigrate as spying".

I cannot be more precise than that, can I?
Do you honestly expect me to give you a list of the criminals who resent being caught out whilst hunting/trapping illegally? At a guess I suppose that all criminal hunters are in that boat.
Do you expect me tell you if your name is on that list when I do not know you at all?
All I know is that you insist that you are not a hunter or a trapper of any sort, neither a law-abiding one nor a law breaker.

Francis Saliba M.D.

May 1st 2012, 21:01

@ Mario Mamo, Yesterday, 21:00

Malta regularly "fights evil" by recruiting "foreigners" - that is what happens when foreign experts are appointed by the courts to carry out investigations beyond our capabilities - against payment of course.
CABS gave us that assistance voluntarily and without charging for it. They were not "harrasing" people any differently from the routine and perfectly legal "harrassment" of road blocks, police searches and the surveillance of suspect crime areas by air, land and sea. Law-abiding citizens accept that needy restriction of their privacy. Hunters and trappers, if truly law-abiding, would not be an exception - otherwise they would only be covering up crime and inviting a total abolition of hunting that would not be fair for the law-abiding hunters.

On this issue I will never make a court appearance in support of the FKNK because the federation does not convince me that it is in favour of effective surveillance of the suspect crime scenes used by many of its members in pursuit of illegal hunting and trapping.

When I was a resident medical officer at St Luke Hospital we always knew of the start of the "passa" by the emergency admission of hunters with faces full of lead pellets and you still read about the more serious injuries e.g. causing blindness. I do not need statistics.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

May 1st 2012, 14:11

Francis Saliba, you are going round in circles! It appears that I have to repeat for a number of times for you to, maybe, comprehend the case in issue. CABS' aircraft also films LAW-ABIDING MALTESE CITIZENS ENJOYING THE PRIVACY OF THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY! It is YOU who is trying to justify CABS' illegal action by mentioning poachers! Is CABS' aircraft selective as to which parts of the countryside is filmed? NO, IT IS NOT! Therefore it is indeed spying on the law-abiding citizens, immaterial of what you are trying (but failing) to say. I am a law-abiding citizen, owning private property in the countryside AND I will not allow CABS to disturb my privacy. If, in your last comment, you tried to insinuate that I am " wearing the mask of sensitive, shy law abiding citizen", I DARE YOU TO BE MORE SPECIFIC AND FACE THE MUSIC! I do not think you are a COWARD, therefore I expect you to be more precise!!!!

Whether you are ready to accept it or not, YES, SIR, YOU ARE HIDING YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND YES, YOU ARE BLINDFOLDED BY YOUR HATRED TOWARDS HUNTERS AND THOSE WHO DEFEND THEM!

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 30th 2012, 21:38

@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin, 30 Apr at 10:44

The fact being discussed here is NOT about CABS' "spying" over LAW-ABIDING hunters, farmers and other Maltese citizens enjoying their private property. That is not "spying" at all - that is making a valid contribution in support of the police duty to prevent crime and to bring law-breakers to justice. Genuine law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear from surveillance over the law-breaking activity of criminals. They appreciate the feeling of security it gives them against the tyranny of the criminal underworld. It is the criminals, wearing the mask of sensitive, shy law abiding citizens, who have every reason to resent being caught out by efficient surveillance methods, that they denigrate as "spying".


I am not sticking my head in the sand nor am I putting on blindfolds. I refuse to be blindfolded or silenced by hunters, who have long tarnished the reputation of any law-abiding hunters among them.

Aristide Galea

Apr 30th 2012, 11:46

The good thing from this news is , that we still have an anti-aircraft defence battery that is still manned to monitor our airspace. To say that the person who brought down this drone might have been using a rifle , shows that you do not even know that a rifle fire a single projectile . This makes it very hard if not impossible to hit such a small moving target with a single bullet . I can say this from my very own experience because I have been using various type of weapons for more then 28 years and was capable of good marksmanship .

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Apr 30th 2012, 10:44

Francis Saliba, you are simply and conveniently hiding behind poaching. The FACT being discussed here is about CABS' spying over LAW-ABIDING HUNTER, FARMERS AND OTHER MALTESE CITIZENS enjoying their PRIVATE PROPERTY! If you so wish, continuing sticking your head in the sand! Furthermore, it is not the case here that we have deferring views. It is about your blind-folded and extremist comments against hunters, unjustly tarnishing their reputation.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 29th 2012, 23:55

" ... it would be very hard for the poor guy (myself) with his constant blogging and tending to his fields. Perhaps there's more .................... " (Mario Mamo at 08:48)

So you have noticed that I am a man of many parts. Any objections? Please do not ask me tp start condoning evil such as illegal hunting and trapping.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 29th 2012, 23:42

@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin, Yesterday, 20:31

The FKNK taking the case to court has nothing to do with my "wish" - it is the civilised thing to do rather than putting up a preposterous defence for illegal hunters and trappers who take the law into their hands. Now, the proper thing to do, is to wait the outcome of the court case, if any, and not to count the chickens before they hatch.

P.S. I disregard your adivice to "stick to medicine" for what it is worth. I do not become "ill-informed" simply because my views disagree with yours.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 29th 2012, 23:28

@ Mario Mamo (today at 08:48)

Do the honest thing and quote me properly, in full. I wrote more than: "When any of these bloggers believes that his privacy has actually been invaded I will support his/her efforts to seek redress at law.' In the sentence immediately preceding I emphasised that: " ... taking photographs in unfenced countryside, open to the general public, is NOT an invasion of privacy" in my view.

I am under no obligation to support hypocritically a hunter's mistaken notion of "privacy". That must not be construed as an objection on my part to his seeking redress at law, only that I do not agree with his plea. My objection is to the attempt to take the law into his own hands and to start shooting at CABS and their equipment.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Apr 28th 2012, 20:31

Francis Saliba, The FKNK have met your "wish" and they will be taking the case to Court! Meanwhile, far from bluffing, I inform myself first, and then put pen to paper. Contrarily, you prefer commenting without being well-informed. Yest, I reiterate, stick to medicine!

A Micallef, you simply do not know what you are talking about. Contrary to being a Miss Know-it-all, I write FACTUAL COMMENTS and not wishful thinking. Yes, the Maltese hunters hold written guarantees for the continuance of Spring Hunting. Furthermore, immaterial of what you try to say, the EU Accession Treaty also included the continuance of Spring Hunting. Therefore, I suggest you stick to FACTS!

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 28th 2012, 20:25

@ Andrew Gatt, Today, 17:04

The MEPA aerial survey photos and Google maps are anything but low resolution. The resolution of the drone photographs taken from a much lower altitude is not known to me. Are you in possession of the drone camera, or its wreckage by any chance since you are so positive?

Surveillance of crime areas can always be denigrated as "spying" but the truth is that it is being done all the time by police searches, ground patrols and low flying helicopters. Modern society cannot do without them. Only the local criminal hunters and trappers demand that they be freed from that surveillance.

Mr Lexva Vassallo

Apr 28th 2012, 17:32

Use of Drone is a good idea to detect illegal hunting. For those up in arms (sic) against this in the name of Privacy try using Google maps and you'll have a clear idea how 'private' one's property is

V Caruana

Apr 28th 2012, 15:56

In his book "the Cobra " Frederick Forsyth writes that drones are used to track and intercept drugs smuggling and transshipment. This should give CABS a better idea.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 28th 2012, 09:30

"You can clearly see private properties in the film shot by the drone, and to top it all the film is aired at prime time on the national TV station." (Andrew Gatt yesterday at 20:29)

Don't you use your brains at all before posting comments? I do not believe that there is a single photographer on the island who does not have plenty of photographs showing other people's private residences, even close up, and who does not show those photographs to all and sundry, and even as photographs in the press if the editor considers them of the standard required! No reasonable person considers them as an invasion of privacy or a violation of personal data protection!

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 28th 2012, 09:22

@ Mario Mamo, Yesterday, 19:48

The facts are that "these bloggers" are playing the game of the law-breaking hunters who obsessively flout the law with impunity.

I do not see the relevance of the foreign nationality of genuine environmentalists (not the local so-called "conservationists") using their surveillance equipment in co-operation with our police - apart from xenophobia, that is. There is no shred of evidence that the photographs are actually being misused to invade privacy or to break any law. That is only a false, unproved allegation.

I did not say that "private property need(s) to be under a roof or fenced for (me) to consider it private. I said that taking photographs in unfenced countryside, open to the general public, is NOT an invasion of privacy. When any of "these bloggers" believes that his privacy has actually been invaded I will support his/her efforts to seek redress at law. I won't support any attempt by any individual to take the law into his own hand. This time it is a drone taking ohotographs from the air. Tomorrow it will be myself taking any photographs from a country road.

I do not think that the nationality of the photographer matters - except to xenophobics. You may be "unconditionally against illegal hunting" - but only in theory, not in actual practice, not even when carried out by the indigenous police whom you accuse of over-zealousness when the abuse remains rampant.

I am not an "occasional visit(or) from Mars". I am a Maltese resident from birth who would appreciate it very much if I were allowed to cultivate the family field without being peppered by lead shot.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 28th 2012, 09:11

@ Mario Mamo, Yesterday, 19:48

The facts are that "these bloggers" are playing the game of the law-breaking hunters who obsessively flout the law with impunity.

I do not see the relevance of the foreign nationality of genuine environmentalists (not the local so-called "conservationists") using their surveillance equipment in co-operation with our police - apart from xenophobia, that is. There is no shred of evidence that the photographs are actually being misused to invade privacy or to break any law. That is only a false, unproved allegation.

I did not say that "private property need(s) to be under a roof or fenced for (me) to consider it private. I said that taking photographs in unfenced countryside, open to the general public, is NOT an invasion of privacy. When any of "these bloggers" believes that his privacy has actually been invaded I will support his/her efforts to seek redress at law. I won't support any attempt by any individual to take the law into his own hand. This time it is a drone taking ohotographs from the air. Tomorrow it will be myself taking any photographs from a country road.

I do not think that the nationality of the photographer matters - except to xenophobics. You may be "unconditionally against illegal hunting" - but only in theory, not in actual practice, not even when carried out by the indigenous police whom you accuse of over-zealousness when the abuse remains rampant.

I am not an "occasional visit(or) from Mars". I am a Maltese resident from birth who would appreciate it very much if I were allowed to cultivate the family field without being peppered by lead shot.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 28th 2012, 08:38

@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin (yesterday at 20:21)

If you are so certain that the aerial surveillance by CABS for criminal activity by the hunting/trapping fraternity is in violation of any Data Protection law, please do the reasonable thing and take them to court.

In the meantime do everyone a favour and stop bluffing, blustering and promoting yourself as an authority.


Francis Saliba, you might be qualified in medicine BUT I assure you, you do not know anything about this area. CABS action goes against the Data Protection Act, Chapter 440 of the Laws of Malta. Therefore, I suggest you refrain from making various other unfounded comments.

A. MICALLEF

Apr 28th 2012, 07:16

MARIO MAMO- Shooting drones = shooting atour jobs in the tourist industry, shooting at
our economy, shooting at the name of Malta as a civilsed EU country, that is shooting yourself.
SYLVANA ZARB DARM......etc. You seem to be a Ms.KNOW IT ALL including whom or what I
voted for. You were always aware that Malta in the EU hunting will be restricted and THAT
IS WHY HUNTERS CAMPAIGNED AGAINST MALTA JOINING E.U. The Majority (maybe
that did not include me) of the Maltese people voted in favour of Malta joining EU and
ignored the hunters.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 28th 2012, 00:44

@ Andrew Gatt, Today, 20:29 (et al)

I agree that it is the law courts that decide if this photograph-taking drone, overflying open ground accesible to the general public and intended to assist the police to combat illegal hunting?rapping, actually breaks privacy and data protection laws or if they are being used legitimately.

Neither Sylvana Zarb Darmanin, nor any other ally of hers, has bothered to take the matter to court and to act in accordance with the decision of that court. No sir! No need for such pettifogging punctiliousness where trigger happy hunters are concerned! No need to wait for proof of improper abusive use of the aerial photos before screaming "privacy" and "data protection". They usurp the function of the police and the law courts to investigate and to judge according to law. One of them has now gone a radical step further. He has criminally taken the law into his own hands. He has appointed himself judge, jury and executioner by shooting down that drone. And the hypocrits who invoke privacy and data protection have the xenophobic effrontery to object that the police - horribile dictu - are being assisted by foreign environmentalists.

When the same type of aerial observation of suspect crime is carried from police helicopters, or when MEPA carries out detailed aerial surveys covering the whole island, no one is so stupid as to complain of "spying" or "data protection"! But disreptable hunters/trappers breaking the law are a law unto themselves! They expect that they be allowed to carry on with their criminal activity protected from effective aerial observation on the xenophobic grounds that the assistance to the police is being given by genuine German environmentalists who have the necessary equipment.

C. Bugeja

Apr 27th 2012, 20:36

I prefer to see flying birds...but why they do not see how many innocent unborn humans are killed everyday in their country? By the way hunters go for their pastime and they have all the attention of the public at the moment while on the other hand the Maltese traditional fishermen are trying to cope with their living after the close seasons and harsh weather and they are being chased like criminals too! They have to dump their catch at sea dead or alive. Tuna swordfish etc... Who is damaging the environment/fish stock, the Maltese on their Luzzu or the European fishermen with their factory trawlers who spends months at sea? Why the Authorities put them in the same boat?

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Apr 27th 2012, 20:21

Mark Cutajar, do you know what you wrote??!! How can I deduct TRAPPERS from law-abiding HUNTERS?! Simple arithmetic dictates that you cannot mix oranges with lemons! Do you remember this from kindergarten classes?! You indeed make me laugh. I enjoy reading humour, similar to that in your comment!

A. Micallef, as Anthony Formosa correctly wrote, you voted in the EU Accession Referendum in full ignorance of what it contained. Not only the continuance of Spring Hunting was included in the EU Accession Treaty BUT written confirmation are held from Dr E Fenech Adami (the then Prime Minister), from MEP Dr Simon Busuttil on behalf of MIC as well as from the EU Commission Mr Verheugen. Therefore, what exactly is your point??!! Meanwhile, hunting or not, you just cannot enter private property, whereas you have to share public property with hunters!

Francis Saliba, you might be qualified in medicine BUT I assure you, you do not know anything about this area. CABS action goes against the Data Protection Act, Chapter 440 of the Laws of Malta. Therefore, I suggest you refrain from making various other unfounded comments.

Pule' Carmel

Apr 27th 2012, 20:06

At the University I have built a nine foot Drone but the intension was to help the local Army to fly pilotless over the mediterranian for illegal immigrants and other surveylance missions. I hope to proceed with such research as it would be more economical and safer to use these drones rather than fly with human pilots.
I believe pilots in USA can fly Drones in countries ofer 8500 miles away.
A 40 cc engine and two gallons of fuel would have a flying duration of over three hours and if the cylinderheads of conventional engines are modifes , one can obtain longer durations.

I am sure that such Drones and quadrocopters can be of value to the hunters too as they would join in the knowledge of birds. I can imagine one of htese quadrocopters that can hover stationery to go down Wied iz _Zurrieq and see and investigate the breeding grounds of those birds athat sound like babies crying.

These days electric motors and kithium batteres perform so silently that it would not disturb the biurds in any way and I am sure that most hunters would love flying with the birds. The gun is an old fashioned tool. Modern electronics have superceeeded guns and they have a longer range of destructions , if ever drones had to be misused as they often are as in Afghanistan by pilots in front of Monitors 9000 miles away.

If ever drones had to replace guns, the Maltese hunters will have a better hobby, I guess, but that expression is loaded !!

Mario Mamo

Apr 27th 2012, 19:59

'we therefore think it was shot down with a rifle and not a shotgun," Axel Hirschfeld said.' Fellow non hunting target shooters please note. Our illustrious ballistics expert seems convinced that a rifle bullet brought his beloved drone down. And this without even seeing the remains!! Guys, dwell for a minute on what repercussions to our hobby this esteemed guest's comment can have. Pray sir leave us alone or have you been given the devine right to take over the Island?

Pule' Carmel

Apr 27th 2012, 19:58

At the University I have built a nine foot Drone but the intension was to help the local Army to fly pilotless over the mediterranian for illegal immigrants and other surveylance missions. I hope to proceed with such research as it would be more economical and safer to use these drones rather than fly with human pilots.
I believe pilots in USA can fly Drones in countries ofer 8500 miles away.
A 40 cc engine and two gallons of fuel would have a flying duration of over three hours and if the cylinderheads of conventional engines are modifes , one can obtain longer durations.

I am sure that such Drones and quadrocopters can be of value to the hunters too as they would join in the knowledge of birds. I can imagine one of htese quadrocopters that can hover stationery to go down Wied iz _Zurrieq and see and investigate the breeding grounds of those birds athat sound like babies crying.

These days electric motors and kithium batteres perform so silently that it would not disturb the biurds in any way and I am sure that most hunters would love flying with the birds. The gun is an old fashioned tool. Modern electronics have superceeeded guns and they have a longer range of destructions , if ever drones had to be misused as they often are as in Afghanistan by pilots in front of Monitors 9000 miles away.

If ever drones had to replace guns, the Maltese hunters will have a better hobby, I guess, but that expression is loaded !!

Steve Zammit

Apr 27th 2012, 19:38

211 comments posted here, and another 350 posted on the other article, just because a RC control plane was shot down

I still remember like it was yesterday....a Honey Buzzard circling low over Girgenti valley last October, the valley was full of hunters as it was the first song thrush migration of the season, everyone saw the bird fly over, 1 shot and it fell down like a stone....did anyone do anything about it? did anyone care? NO because no one would give a damn

and here we are everyone commenting, intrusion of privacy and disturbance of their hobby because of a silly plane lifeless plane got shot down....no i don't agree with what CABS did with the plane , the police should be doing it, but its the same cabs that are trying to put an end to illegal hunting while most of you people commenting below never did anything to stop it.

Can we stop with this nonsense and get back to the ground and face the real situation here

meanwhile illegal hunting continues, I saw 2 kestrels getting killed last week, another shot last weekend, a flock of pigeons shot at, 2 Golden orioles shot at, and 2 idiots yes with arm bands picking up a crake they had just shot from a valley with water in front of me....hunters shooting on Sunday, shooting without armbands and not reporting all they bag....and a friend of mine found a cuckoo dead in his field, it had gunshots wounds in its chest...

most of you are condemning these guys actions, but how many you are condemning the illegalities??? if it wasn't for some happy trigger minded guys that shoot at anything that flies given the opportunity and no one is looking, cabs wouldn't be here in the first place

What a sad country

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 27th 2012, 17:39

@ Michelle Attard (today at 15:14)

I am all in favour of the genuine protection of privacy and personal data but this occasion is NOT one of them.

This is a blog about someone taking the law into his own hand and shooting down of a drone overflying unenclosed open spaces, freely accessible to the public, not the private reservation of the hunting/trapping community, and for the legitimate purpose of obtaining evidence of chronic criminal activity in public, which evidence was intended to be passed on to the police for action by them.

“Privacy” “data protection” and “foreigners” are all red herrings being introduced in an unconvincing attempt to cover up and to promote criminal activity that should never be tolerated.

Darren Caruana

Apr 27th 2012, 14:37

I find it amusing that all the media and journalists have filled stories surrounding this drone with pellets, hunters, rifles, shooting etc etc. Even though its understandable.
i would have at least however expected a professional journalist to openly question the legality of this craft.
goes to show how biased some or most journalists are - very unprofessional.

Re crashing; it was reported that the wreckage has not been found. so how come all the titles are so sure that it has been shot down?? maybe it had a malfunction.
And if CABS stuck to the flying high 'rule', a malfumction is more likely than it being shot down.

Which brings me to the point - Insurance! was this thing insured? what if it crashed, hit and injured or even killed someone?

mario salnitro

Apr 27th 2012, 13:49

When using UFO cartridges with no 4 shot i can knock anything out of the sky at over 100 meters and it is a perfectly legal cartridge which can be bought from all gun shops in Europe.
In fact this cartridge was invented by an Italian for very long distance shots for high flying Ducks or Geese but in our case can be used with great success on Model aircraft kindly supplied by CABS.

A. MICALLEF

Apr 27th 2012, 12:11

Il-kaccaturi ghamlu kampanja kbira sabiex Malta ma tidholx fl-EU minhabba li kienu jafu
li Malta fl-EU, il-kacca hija kkontrollata. IL-MAGGORANZA tal-poplu Malti sfida lil
kaccaturi u ivvota IVA ghal-Malta fl-Ewropa. Jigifieri il-maggoranza kbira tal-Maltin
huma kontra il-kacca, u kontra kull bully u cowboy. Il-gvern ghandhu jixtri dawn id-drones
u jghamel huwa dan ix-xoghol li qiedgha tghamel il-CABS. A big thankyou to CABS.
Dawk li ma togobhomx iol-CABS huma kaccaturi jew in-NISA TA KACCATURI, ghalxejn
jinhbew. CABS actions are legal and fully supported by the civilsed Maltese citizen.

Joe Xuereb

Apr 27th 2012, 11:48

@Mary Ann Borg (Yesterday 23:15). Ms. Borg, by your own admission you are against hunting and bird-trapping. And yet you spun out the rest of your comment, with style. You think. A contradiction, or what?(matched only by the notion that killing birds is a hobby, ie a pleasure). One helluva confused lady - and hunters by inference - methinks.

The guffaws of laughter keep coming. And it's not even eleven in the morning. Keep 'em comin'!

Borg Joseph

Apr 27th 2012, 11:40

80 - 100 metres high and it was shot down.....
..... Could it have been a technical fault which brought it down?
.... hearing shots is not a rare event, thus the simultaneous occurrence of shots with a fault is not something impossible....
..... Could it be the case that someone had the interest to raise a tornado in a tea cup?

Joe Xuereb

Apr 27th 2012, 11:29

Have gun. Will shoot. Anything. That moves. Alas! Only in Malta. Yet again!


I'm having a field day (pun very much intended) this morning. What with the errors on the charge-sheet and acquittal of three bobbies-socksers and a bouncer, further up. I cannot contain myself. Thank you Malta. You're one helluva stand-up comic, babe!

Joe Xuereb

Apr 27th 2012, 11:28

Have gun. Will shoot. Anything. That moves. Alas! Only in Malta. Yet again!

I'm having a field day (pun very much intended) this morning (so watch your arse Joe). What with the errors on the charge-sheet and acquittal of three bobbies-socksers and a bouncer, further up. I cannot contain myself. Thank you Malta. You're one helluva stand-up comic.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Apr 27th 2012, 11:04

Ramon Casha, do you really expect me to take YOUR word as opposed to that of the Office of the Commissioner for Data Protection??!! Very presumptuous indeed! Who are you to state that "The actions of CABS were entirely legal"? NO THEY WERE NOT! Finally, you are actually "unhappy with the number of Maltese people" condemning CABS' actions!!

C BONDIN

Apr 27th 2012, 11:02

Dear Friends,

I would really enjoy if these types of planes were used in different manners such as: People doing a picnic/ bbq in fields trowing waste and dump in goverment lands leaving a mass after them/ trafficking drugs (control drug users and pushers) and many other things. The reality is that a hunter goes there in his private field and waits for a turtle dove to shoot at it (For your information not all hunters shoot at protected birds and cabs knows abt these things and they show and make public only illegal hunting) Well anyway im a hunter as well, i saw the plane he passed over me and i didnt shoot at it, but happened that someone stupid has given a challenge to these Foreigners which are thinking that they are doing a sort of good job. What they are making in my opinion is a civil war between the goverment and heated heads of hunters.

Joseph Brincat

Apr 27th 2012, 10:57

WELL PUT IT IN THE POSITIVE SIDE OF IT,AT LEAST THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOT AT !!!!!

Michael Mann

Apr 27th 2012, 10:53

I would bet a great deal of money that the operator of the drone crashed it or it malfunctioned and went down. First of all, who would be hunting birds with a rifle? As stated, 80-100 metres altitude if much too high to bring down with a shotgun. The chances of hitting it with a rifle would be less than one in a thousand.

Chris Fenech

Apr 27th 2012, 10:51

Why dont CABS just bring 2,000 - 3,000 drones every hunting season ?? This would keep the hunters busy and make everybody happy .... Hunters happy shooting CABS drones and CABS happy because no birds are getting killed .... :-)

Christopher Grainger

Apr 27th 2012, 10:41

might be an idea to upgrade to a predator ? :-)

Giovanni Rizzo

Apr 27th 2012, 10:21

Good marksman.

Cedric Busuttil

Apr 27th 2012, 10:10

I ask.... what proof is there that it has been shot down? Thinking shot by a rifle? (well that is quite difficult . I guess Nato & American forces will be keeping an eye on us ) - - - What about buckshots... I know they can travel much further stated range! And what if flying frequency has been detected thus been taken down by another remote?? What if there was a mulfunction ??? Pffff I'm ss curious... wish to see footages

Roderick Micallef

Apr 27th 2012, 10:08

I am not in favour of illegal hunting however I am also totally against privacy breach so dear CABS your drone plane deserved to be shot down! If I have a private property and I know that there is a remote controlled plan flying over my property and filming I would also be the first to shoot it down if need be with a machine gun, this is now becoming ridiculous. My questions are :-
1. Did CABS have the legal right to do this?
2. If the answer is yes to the first question, WHO gave CABS the authorization?
3. If the answer is no to the first question, will CABS be held responsible for privacy & Data protection breach?

keith chetcuti

Apr 27th 2012, 09:55

jiena nimagina li jek dan qijad jittajar minn fuq propjeta privata u dan maj kollux mandat ta inibizjoni mill pulizija biex jisorvelja xinti taghamel inti ma jistawx allura huwa sewwa li sparawlu ghax kieku jiena ek naghamel ax issa iz zejjed kollu zejjed u sewwa amlulhom waqawulhom ek sewwa go hwejgek u ajruplan itir fuqek biex jara xinti tagahamel minn nies barranini

A Cachia

Apr 27th 2012, 09:08

Fuq din tista tieqaf il-kacca. La kellhom permess tal-pulizija ghalija dak kien qieghed maghom.

Paul Sammut

Apr 27th 2012, 09:02

OK I am agianst illegal hunting even though once I was a hunter myself. I changed my mind and stopped more than 20 years ago. I am in favour of banning spring hunting as well. But come on now ! Aren't we exaggerating a bit ? It like the cold war period when spies where at their best. As far as I am aware of spy planes can be brought down if they pass from over one's territory. Once it happend back in the 60's. We have come to a ridiculous piont where in Europe you can kill a human being (baby) by abortion but you cannot kill a turtle dove ! So stupid.

C Mallia

Apr 27th 2012, 08:59

As some said, the ideal situation is that the Malta police does these kind of operations. As in other nations, police can also use helicopters for the purposes of combatting crime. No one then sees it as an invasion of privacy, as the right to privacy is lost as soon as a crime is committed.

As hunting and trapping in Malta is such a political topic, many Maltese know that this will not happen, as politicians do not want to annoy people even if it is for legitimate causes. CABS are just taking the lead and showing us all how technology can be used to combat crime.

Alexander Pace Gouder.

Apr 27th 2012, 08:54

Sparaw - U Bullseye. Quite a perfect shot!

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Apr 27th 2012, 08:52

Ramon Casha, the least you could have done to confirm that CABS' actions are illegal, was to phone and enquire with the Office of the Commissioner for Data Protection, similar to what I did. So please, inform yourself before commenting. Meanwhile, I am sure you are quite unhappy with the many comments coming from non-hunters who are condemning CABS actions!

A Micallef, "EU has nothing to do with this matter, it is the big majority of the Maltese people (and this was proven in the EU referendum) that want hunting banned"????!!!!! Are you serious?! The EU Accession Referendum included the continuance of Spring Hunting. I believe you voted in full ignorance of what this contained.

Paul Azzopardi

Apr 27th 2012, 08:47

CABS is just creating more sport!!! Hell, I'd shoot the damn thing for fun if I had a gun, at least I'm not shooting a helpless bird. Got to say it, ''nice shot man'' 80 to 100 meters ''bamm!'' Keep it up CABS, one of these days we'll be trying to fly politicians at least that'll make them more usefull in the air than they are on the ground. .....Tisk

Joseph Fortina

Apr 27th 2012, 08:46

I like the drone Idea.... hope there are more in the air so at least hunters are using their time and ammo on these aircraft not birds.....Only In Malta....

Duncan Micallef

Apr 27th 2012, 08:33

Although I is against all illegal activities the CABS are coming to Malta further damaging the already uneasy relation between hunters and bird conservation societies. Instead of these people aiding in the relations process they further antagonize both sides depending of the beliefs of those who read of their "adventures". They come to Malta ready for a full blown war expecting some Argentina for hunters and so they further militarize individual hunters not only seeing them as enemies but also foreigners.

I only ask Bird Life Malta, other such societies and the government to stop allowing them to invade Malta twice a year since they are of no help in the matter.

Hossam Helwani

Apr 27th 2012, 08:32

It is useless trying to excuse illegal hunting just because other countries do it! Malta by nature is very small and not everything applies. Hunting is not an easy subject and should be considered absolete. There was a time when hunting was needed. There are countries like Australia where they incourage hunting of certain species, to keep the numbers under control. In Malta's Case it is not keeping the numbers down, it is destroying what is striving to remain.
Shame for all who are trying to excuse this disgusting bird killing by accusing cabs of infringing sovereignity. If any Maltese citizen feels that Germans are doing so , then they should do like cabs and report such behaviour. Maltese hunting has a very world wide reputation of going beyond rules and reason.
I am glad that a body like Cabs are doing what no one else ever did.

Lawrence Fenech

Apr 27th 2012, 08:15

Gejna tajjeb flok kacca ghal-ghasafar kacca ghal-kaccatur u dan mis-solitu barranin.

dieter bulten

Apr 27th 2012, 08:11

I love what these guys do but seriously didn't you expect this to happen. I mean can you picture the hunters... SPARALU Guz!!!! heck.... i'd shoot this at at least 80 metres i must say its a pretty good shot too... nice!

carlos ellul

Apr 27th 2012, 07:43

Please stop with this 'miniex kaccatur' and 'jien anti kacca' comments. Its cracking me up.

We've seen resistance against CABS in all sort and ways. Why not say the truth ie that our John Rambos hate being controlled? They miss the days when they could kill anything that can fly.

F. Pisani

Apr 27th 2012, 07:30

Well Done. My advice has been accepted. Mission Accomplished.

Dave Alan Caruana

Apr 27th 2012, 07:23

considering that our noble huntsmen can hardly hit a bird (just look at their recorded catch last hunting season) it's kudos to them that they brought down Cabs' aircraft. It was probably cunningly disguised as a golden plover. I wonder if the honourable marksman involved reported the catch by SMS.

A. MICALLEF

Apr 27th 2012, 07:06

A hunter firing a rifle ?? Fejn qeghdin f-gungla ?? The Maltese authorities should buy and
operate these drones and ban hunting. EU has nothing to do with this matter, it is the
big majority of the Maltese people (and this was proven in the EU referendum) that want
hunting banned. Dawn in-nies jahsbu li ghaliex ghandhom senter jhossuhom xi cowboys
bhal tal-films u jheddu lil kullmin jigi quddiemhom. Min spara ir-rifle ghandu jigi imressaq
il-Qorti u jinghata sentenza harxa sabiex isservi ta ezempju li Malta mhux cowboy country.

Mr charles azzopardi

Apr 27th 2012, 07:01

the first analysis shows that it was an air-to air missile , the hunters have their drone too ! soon we have dog fights ... grow up please .. such news makes us smile ( as long as nobody is injured )

Eric Sammut

Apr 27th 2012, 06:28

What really happened was that he flew the plane out of range and lost contact. By saying it got shot down he made it in the papers and will get more money to replace it. What we will do now is to use radio frequency jammers and deploy on our hunting sites. This is an invasion of privacy and this derelict is doing this in Malta cause he has nothing better to do. Such actions would be illegal in his country.

Dennis Zammit

Apr 27th 2012, 05:45

Well done.

For me both the drone idea and its downing should have been avoided. CABS should use their time in their home country because illegal hunting is also present in Germany.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Apr 27th 2012, 05:02

These hunters are their own worst enemies confirming that they are a lawless breed using their guns to take the law into their own hands. Next they will be demanding the banning of binoculars and cameras because they "invade their privacy" and will be shooting at them especially when in the hands of foreigners. Only total banning of hunting will make it safe for unarmed civilians to use our country lanes and few open spaces.

Mr C Galea

Apr 27th 2012, 00:58

With such good marksmen around living in malta I pity the birds.

c Micallef

Apr 27th 2012, 00:30

Whilst not agreeing with illegal hunting, I also don't like the idea of having some drone fitted with a camera hovering over my private space. What has happened to privacy? Doesn't Mr Hirschfeld have anything better to film in his country? Oh nothing illegal happens there.... Pity you were not born a few years before, as I am very sure that there were quite a few more interesting things to film in your area......

Sandra Camilleri

Apr 26th 2012, 23:50

What a shame who ever shot the CABS down - it shows what kind of hunters we have - to kill such birds.
Hope who ever did this would be caught and fined as per EU regulations.

Justin Spiteri

Apr 26th 2012, 23:39

Sounds like the US - Iran drone episode ....I wonder if the Hunters will reverse engineer it and use it to spy on CABS people now......

David Mifsud

Apr 26th 2012, 23:21

Typical of rambo wannabes with guns "If it exposes our faults we shoot it down". How sad are this lot? What a disgrace to our nation.

joe muscat

Apr 26th 2012, 23:19

Mistoqsija lil Kummissarju tal-Pulizija ,veru li biex tkun tista` ttajjar dawn it tip ta ajruplani suppost irid ikollok licenzja , u tista` ttajjar dawn l-ajruplani go postijiet apposta , ta` qali u hal Far ? sur kummissarju dawn ghandhom permess biex itajjru dan l-ajruplan , u jekk iva taht liema ligi inataw dan il-permess , nispera sur Kummissarju li tohrog stqarrija u tikkjarifika din il-mistoqsija , ghax wisq nibza li l-pulizija qieghda tuza mizien differenti ma min jaqbilla.

grazzi

Mary Ann Borg

Apr 26th 2012, 23:15

Did CABS ever announce they were bringing a drone with them in their quest to quell illegal hunting/trapping? So why should we care if their unannounced drones got shot down? Do they think the Maltese are some stupid bunch of people or what? I am against any hunting or trapping but I am equally against anyone trying to cry foul after having pushed the barrier further without announcing anything. To CABS: This is Malta and you'd better believe it. We are warm-hearted people and accept most things, but taking us for a ride or trying to push things down our windpipe is not on. The Nazis tried that in WW2 and they were in for a nasty surprise. You thought you had your own secret weapon. Well you dont have it anymore now do you? Good for you. As a Maltese citizen I feel very embarrased by our hunters/trappers but I feel very angry when people like you come over and think they can run roughshod over Malta. You are only antagonising well-intentioned people like me who would like to bring an end to birds being shot or trapped. I assure you that you having your drone shot down is no loss to anyone but you and your reputation. You crossed the lines and now even have the audicity to cry foul. Your drone, your loss and move on. The sad thing about this whole issue is that you're bringing bone-fide Maltese in favour of hunters/trappers as a result of choosing the lesser of two evils.

Bernard Bezzina

Apr 26th 2012, 23:07

Messna nisthu nhallu l-barrani jispija fuqna biex jugzana lill-'mummy'. Ghandna nghixu fl-ombra tal-kolonjalizmu..............

Alex Ellul

Apr 26th 2012, 22:55

and how many other illegalities have been carried out by crimials dressed in hunting fatigues? This monitoring gadget was shot down by hunters and trappers carrying out illegal, therefore criminal acts. There is noother reason why hunters have to shoot down a model aircraft.

Paul Gauci

Apr 26th 2012, 22:53

It's humanely impossible to hit a moving drone with a rifle!

T ATTARD

Apr 26th 2012, 22:53

"It was flying quite high, between 80 and 100 metres and we therefore think it was shot down with a rifle and not a shotgun," Axel Hirschfeld said.

maybe it was shot down by .50 cal or maybe they shot it down with a gutling gun or an rpg!!!!!!
it could have easily been shot down by the iranians thinking it was a us spy drone!!!

Alan Troll

Apr 26th 2012, 22:51

Boom, headshot! I think...
Hunters 1-CABS 0

C Mallia

Apr 26th 2012, 22:45

To all those law abiding citizens: We all have the right to privacy but not at the price of illegal and criminal activites. If technology is used to curb illegal activity, then that becomes acceptable in my book. Ok the fact that the airplane is flown by CABS is not ideal, but what if it was flown by the police instead? Would real law abiding citizens object to that? Let us say that instead of envronmental crime, we are looking at drug related crimes. Its been known that police have flown helicopters to find Cannabis plants in back gardens.

The scope of this activity is to fight illegality and should be done by the police, but we all know that our police force is also gagged and tied by the political classes.

Carmel Vella

Apr 26th 2012, 22:41

A "PILOT"? Perhaps the Red Baron was in charge.

Eric Camilleri (Q)

Apr 26th 2012, 22:32

SMS for today : Quail 0, Turtle Dove 0, Drone 1 dated Thursday 26th April 2012.

r buttigieg

Apr 26th 2012, 22:28

those pro-hunting can put their drone in the skies and challenge the cabs'drone, we could watch some dogfights, the hunters have something to shoot at thus sparing the birds, cabs would thus be happy and its a win-win situation

Schembri Ray

Apr 26th 2012, 22:20

What a good shot at 100 m. This sniper can represent us at the Olimpics.

Mr Victor Borg

Apr 26th 2012, 22:19

many people here are commenting about what they depict as 'foreign interference.' Such comments display bigotry and xenophobia.

I have some questions for such people:
Do you realise we are in the EU and it's 2012? Do you realise that these foreigners you speak of have every right to reside here and take part in local affairs because they are EU nationals? Just like we have every right to go to Germany - or any other EU country - and become activists for whatever cause we may feel passionate about?

These are our EU national compatriots, not some aliens, and they enjoy all rights in Malta.

Steve Zammit

Apr 26th 2012, 22:17

I support Cabs in their work to combat illegalities but I think you are going too far with this

This is just provoking hunters more and only people like myself will suffer, when all i want to do is enjoy the countryside equally and enjoy birds with binoculars, now such news will further increase tension present and endanger my safety

The police should do this job, and cabs should assist not the other way round. And after yesterday's incident, what did you expect? they throw flowers and wave smiling? it was kinda obvious they were gonna shoot it down

M. Cardona

Apr 26th 2012, 22:15

Mr Hirschfeld,

kompli gib ghax mid-dehra dawn id-drone planes jaghmlu naqra brodu tal-genn! Now find someone to translate it for you and possibly someone who can communicate the meaning of respect for the locals when you're in a foreign land.

Mr brian farrugia

Apr 26th 2012, 22:10

Re: Cabs rc spy plane
Reply #66 - Today at 22:58:52 Axel Hirschfeld jinsab taht arrest mill-Pulizija, u ahna ser inresqu akkuzi kontrih u l-CABS permezz tal-avukati taghna.

Grazzi

FKNK
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steve azzopardi

Apr 26th 2012, 22:09

missom imorru pajjizhom itajtu lajruplan mux aw

Anthony A. Mifsud

Apr 26th 2012, 22:07

I was out in the bird hide when I had wind of this, bloody Weldon old chap
Best hunt ever, as today it was yet again another poor day, I haven't baged one bird.
Good clean shooting Weldon
Chief recommdion one onion carrot and celery salt and peper to personal taste, add a bay leaf too, clip the wings before inserting the body in the pot.
Tony

Godwin Spiteri

Apr 26th 2012, 21:57

proset kbira lil min raqad dan l-ajruplan . ha jqazzu lil kulhadd dawn tal cabs lanqas naqra privacy ma fadlilna go dal pajjiz . mur gijbom aw xi erba dojoq ghaw jiktbu favur il cabs jigi xi germaniz joqod quddiem darhom u jwahal xi camera biex joqod jispijom . ajma hey holl xaghrek u gib iz -zejt kemm inkwiet jinqala .

Joe Fenech

Apr 26th 2012, 21:53

CABS is doing the job of the Police..that useless force.

David Delmar

Apr 26th 2012, 21:53

We pay memberships and insurances to fly our radio controlled models and anyway we cannot fly them anywhere but just on our fly sites and we even need permission from the control tower so that we will not be of any threat to passengers aircraft while practising our passtime so how come that foreigners needs nothing of the sort!!! Are they above the law???And anyway I will not tolerate any foriegner to by pass my privacy and spy on me when I am relaxing in my private property.I dare say well done to all of those that are against interference from foreigners!!

Mr Anton Portelli

Apr 26th 2012, 21:46

"It was flying quite high, between 80 and 100 metres and we therefore think it was shot down with a rifle and not a shotgun," Axel Hirschfeld said.

The person who downed your drone must have been a very good marksman to hit your drone with a rifle !!!! He should be awarded a gold medal for this!!!!

It is practically impossible to hit a moving target at that range with a single projectile . A rifle fires a single bullet and unless it hit the vital part of the plane ie the engine it would have made a clean hole and the plane would not drop. Thus the difficulty for bringing it down multiplies!!!!! Please do not speak more nonsense Mr Hirschfeld just go back to your homeland and monitor the illegalities of your nation and leave us alone.
The authorities should ban the use of these things because they invade the privacy of us Maltese in our own country and I expect all proud Maltese not to support such foreign interference in our own country.

Martin Saliba

Apr 26th 2012, 21:31

If this drone was operated by Maltese authorities i wopuld say shame on who shot it down but as it is being operated by forgners interfering in our affairs i say well done and i hope they shoot down all the drones you bring in September. This is not a hobby flying a remotly controlled aircraft , this is spying onto privatley owned property by fanatics and is probably illegal.

Marcel Buttigieg

Apr 26th 2012, 21:29

Well done. they should moniter what is being done in their countries like abortion etc. and leave the local police to do their job. Well done once again

Joe Busuttil

Apr 26th 2012, 21:23

More drones,please. When the birds have a day off,our hunters will still have something to fire at.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Apr 26th 2012, 21:22

It is heartening to see from the comments below that CABS' illegal action has drawn the scorn of many, many non-hunters and non-trappers! It is time to return a commonly used phrase against hunters, to CABS and Co: You are shooting yourself in the foot! Keep it up CABS! He who laughs last laughs best. First BLM were exposed of their untruths, now it is CABS turn!

Wake up, Mr Govenment, Commissioner of Police and Commissioner for Data Protection. Defend the Maltese Citizens and put a stop to CABS' illegal act! This is expected of you all!

Joe Grech

Apr 26th 2012, 21:08

If this administration is serious about hunting it should pay for the new remote controlled aircraft. But then very probably this PN lot don't wish to anger hunters so near the approaching election.

HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI

Apr 26th 2012, 21:04

This is not the end of the story. The CABS have confirmed that come next autumn they will return with another spy aircraft.
We need to know from high authorities whether this is permissible and if there are no laws as stipulated by the CABS the government should make sure that this form of monitoring is declared illegal.
I am all out to curb illegal activities and give my contribution in this respect but at the same time I am all out to protest about the arrogant and take over the responsibility which should be vested on to our local authorities.
These foreigners are welcome so long as their support is limited to cooperation with the ALE and using human element is controlling supervision of illegal activity
I expect the Commissioner of Police to issue a statement enlightening the general public whether the use of such aircraft is acceptable. This is urgently required before we hear fo direct physical confrontation between these CABS and the Maltese.
The fact that BIRDLIFE dissociated themselves from this innovation of surveillance is ample proof that the method used is unpopular.
Wake up please and do your duty in guiding the public in this situation.

J. Camilleri

Apr 26th 2012, 21:02

ghamlu sewwa! ghandhom erba tijiem kacca halluhom ftit bi kwiethom...

N. Agius

Apr 26th 2012, 21:00

What is the opinion of the ministry concerned about this aerial spying? From the comments it is obvious that the majority of the people (including those who like me are against hunting) are totally against this foreign intrusion and breech of privacy. Were these Germans given a special permit to fly these drones? I think that the colonial mentality still prevails after all.

John Zammit-Spiteri

Apr 26th 2012, 20:54

I am glad that other countries are taking the initiative and try and do something when we never came to do anything about this matter. IT should shame us all this frenzy to kill birds. I hope cabs will bring more of these planes. These bullies should be stopped and I hope this blood thirsty rage to kill birds will stop for good.

Pule' Carmel

Apr 26th 2012, 20:53

Have a look at this folks, An Eagle dropping a fawn on a power line! It does not happen every day!

http://youtu.be/213-p5zkA2s

Angelo Polidano

Apr 26th 2012, 20:51

Always thought that the authorities are there paid by the citizens to protect us and here we are allowing foreigners to come here pleasing themselves making fools of us. One ought to try and do what CABS are doing here in any civilized country and see what will happen to to them but us Maltese we are used to foreigners to come here and let them wipe their feet on us after all we are known to be a very accomodating nation. Wake up authorities and start doing what you are paid for.

Pule' Carmel

Apr 26th 2012, 20:46

Have a look at this

http://youtu.be/MggzunD0-i4

Drones with cameras on them could prove an interesting past time for hunters to fly with the birds and share their beauty.

Keith Goodlip

Apr 26th 2012, 20:44

model aircraft enthusiasts are required to fly only in certain zones at certain times. Who gave the authority to CABS to fly as they please? it seems there is a shift from the hunters being the law to the cabs and birdlife being the law.

anthony sultana

Apr 26th 2012, 20:43

We need drones to gaurd our shores,and other criminal activities,I hope the government learne a lesson from the CABS .Decent people don"t have to be afraid,and stop talking about private, private.

vella m

Apr 26th 2012, 20:42

So, Labour will legalize hunting as it was before we joined the EC right?

Mr M. Vella

Apr 26th 2012, 20:40

@ C. Camilleri: whatever your stance to hunting you should have only one stance when individuals decode to open fire on mechanisms used to help uphold the law

Ramon Casha

Apr 26th 2012, 20:35

I recommend that the hunters' license fees are increased to cover the costs of TWO such drone planes, to be used to monitor their activities and ensure no illegality is taking place.

Those hunters who abide by the law - assuming that there is such a thing - should be thanking CABS for bring to justice those hunters and trappers whose flagrant disregard for the law is the biggest threat to future hunting.

Luke Stivala

Apr 26th 2012, 20:29

I find it hard to believe that a hunter shot it down with a rifle at that altitude. Must be an Uber-sniper to hit a fast moving object at a 100mts !!! and looking UP without a tripod !!!

John Zammit

Apr 26th 2012, 20:21

Are we an independent nation or a colony of those so called bird watchers I am against hunting but this is absurd

David Caruana

Apr 26th 2012, 20:16

I'd be cautious before anyone shouts "victory!" - rumor has it that they have other drones ready for dispatch.

John J Borg

Apr 26th 2012, 20:16

this plane was doomed from the first moment that cabs launched it with the intention to spy maltese citezens. profs axel must have consulted his german ballistics books before authorising `a safe flight at 80m`....he has no idea what `maltese geniality can come up with`......lets not forget that both blm and fknk and their affiliations ACCEPTED TO HONOUR THE OUTCOME OF THE ECJ ,blm and cabs are still opposing the maltese hunter rights for a short spring hunting season, and hence their provocations continue undisturbed.

Claire Busuttil

Apr 26th 2012, 19:48

another action by hunters, to once again show their ignorance!

Karl Axisa

Apr 26th 2012, 19:44

Good shot at long last!! It is already worrying having to keep up with knowing that other countries can monitor our movements using their eyes in the sky. We had also to put up with these foreigners invading our privacy. Since when can common people use such apparatus to spy on private property and invade our privacy? Are we waiving the data protection act? Does this give me the go ahead to spy on my neighbouring villas and get details of any goings on? Or am I, as a Maltese citizen a lesser mortal not like Mr Herschel because he is of a higher order descent and thinks that he and his ilk can do whatever comes to mind? Honestly can i do such a thing? Besides, am I right in stating that one needs permission to fly such gadgets i.e. from control tower. Aren't model airplanes authorised to fly only in designated areas i.e at Hal Far and Ta Qali obtaining permission from respective clubs?

I am against anything that is illegal, be it hunting or invading other people's privacy. CABS you have lost my support with this stupid childish act. Grow up. If you want to curb illegal hunting and trapping there are other ways and means, starting by respecting the local population and its laws.

Mario Farrugia

Apr 26th 2012, 19:40

To all you bloggers who think that this spy drone was a bright idea....
THINK AGAIN!
You should all be ashamed of yourselves for encouraging and applauding FOREIGNERS to take the law into their own hands and commit this obscene act of invasion of privacy on ALL YOUR FELLOW MALTESE CITIZENS (not just hunters and/or trappers!). It is irrelevant whether this was an effort to monitor illegal trapping or hunting or whatever. That is not my point here! My point is that this is absolute invasion of privacy of ALL Maltese citizens and their property!
What these foreigners are doing is illegal! It is a blatant invasion of ANYONE'S privacy!
How would any of you like it if I had to fly such an aircraft, armed with high definition camera, over your own private property? Maybe over you private swimming pool?
What do you think would happen to me (not to a foreigner, but to me, a Maltese law-abiding, tax-paying citizen of Malta) had I to decide to fly such an aircraft over, let's say, the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta? Or the Corradino Correctional Facility yard in Paola? Or the private gardens of the President in San Anton? What would you bloggers say then??
Stand up and be counted as proud, Maltese citizens and condemn this foreign invasion of EVERYONE'S privacy by these maverick German fools!!
We have a 1,800-strong police force which has been utterly humiliated by these foreigners!
And here we have Maltese citizens, TRAITORS! who actually condone such a practice!!
As for the act of shooting down this drone, all I can say is that they asked for it. Chalk one up for the hunters and trappers! They certainly made my day!!

Chris Mifsud

Apr 26th 2012, 19:37

I am totally against hunting and for all i care they can ban hunting, but what I am more against is these Germans thinking they have a right to come to Malta play Policeman. They are much more of a nuisance than the hunters and now using these model aircraft to SPY on private property is too much.

I am glad the hunters shot their spy drone down and I hope that more is done to intimidate these foreign busy bodies who should not even be allowed in the country given their intentions.

A Camilleri

Apr 26th 2012, 19:36

What's the quota for shooting such planes and do they have to be registered by SMS?

Toni Borg

Apr 26th 2012, 19:34

That's what you get dear CABS for publicising your drone!!

Mark Vassallo

Apr 26th 2012, 19:34

Time to bring out the heavy guns.
How about a Predator drone which can be armed with Hellfire missiles.
It can not only detect illegal hunters, but it can also go on the offensive too!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics_MQ-1_Predator

Michael Borg

Apr 26th 2012, 19:32

no comment !!! haahah imsomma BLACK HAWK DOWN !!

Patrick Mifsud

Apr 26th 2012, 19:31

I urge the hunters who stopped paying the licence to renew it for the coming season. Now flying drones are on the hunting list. A new species introduced by our loving friends CABS. ( Comittee After Boundary Spying )

Mr charles azzopardi

Apr 26th 2012, 19:23

How come CABS managed to find this drone first ? A hunter's dog should have took it and then it will be stuffed and shown in a showcase .

Paul Caruana

Apr 26th 2012, 19:11

How stupid is it to fly the thing at 80 - 100m?

At the very least, they should not let it go below 500m: if need be, use a higher resolution camera!

Jonathan Paul Cuschieri

Apr 26th 2012, 19:05

Who says it was shot after all? There is no evidence that the drone malfunctioned after all. And since no wreckage was found, nobody is in a position to present any evidence that the thing was factually shot down.

Do not get me wrong, I am against all sorts and forms of illegal hunting and trapping, but I am also concerned that the lack of distinction often made by several parties concerned, as well as many members of the general public, between bona fide hunters and those who break the law.

Generalisation is the roots of bias and prejudice. Pointing fingers has become a common malpractice, especially when it appears that those doing so seem to justify the means by the end, of what they believe to be a noble cause.

It is a noble cause to protect nature and protected birds. It is also a noble cause to uphold the law. But it is not noble to just place everyone in the same basket, and immediately putting all blame on 'hunters' and hunting.

Just like in every sphere of society, there are benevolent people as well as malicious ones, involved within the hunting sphere, and the same may also be said for the constituents of the opposing field.

So there are hunters and hunters, and it is disgusting to see that many prefer not to recognise the good from the bad. This is unfair and undemocratic, and it is an insult to the said bona-fide hunters. Even the classification hunter has become a sort of stigma and taboo.

Having said all that I am not a hunter, and am solely opposing to the many sweeping statements made by all concerned about this sector of people, which does happen to include a law-abiding majority after all!

Alex Ciantar

Apr 26th 2012, 19:04

Plane shot down!! ........I bet the birds are relieved!

A.F. Busuttil

Apr 26th 2012, 19:03

I am against hunting totally but this is interfierence . This should be monitored by local authorities.

Sammy Vella

Apr 26th 2012, 19:03

Ha namila cara li jien kontra kull kacca jew insib illegali ghalkemm nemmen li il kaccaturi u in nassaba ghandom dritt ghad delizzju tahhom pero ma niddejjaqx nghid li f Malta ghanna gvern vera tal- ghajb u tal misthijja u jisthoqlu kull kundanna talli jippermetti lill dawn in nies jigu jispjunaw fuq il Maltin qisu m hu qed jigri xejn. dawn in nies imissu l-anqas biss ihallihom jirfsu fuq malta ahseb u ara kemm jippermettilom jispjunaw fuqna. Il vera sirt tisthi tghid li int malti ghax il gvern qed jippermetti lill kullhadd jirfes fuqna. Sirna ghar minn meta konna kolonja. Isthi sur Gvern!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eve Axiaq

Apr 26th 2012, 19:02

If the plane was spying over my field I would shot it down as well. These cabs are not the police but a bunch of German citizens who have nothing else to do but to intimidate us and treating us like second class citizens.. And I hate hunting but enough is enough.

J Vella

Apr 26th 2012, 19:00

Thanks God. Black Hawk Down

Ramon Casha

Apr 26th 2012, 18:59

This is further proof that ANY hunting season is a bad idea. Once they can legally carry a shotgun they WILL shoot at anything they want to, laws or no laws, whether it's a protected bird or a perfectly legal remote controlled aircraft. The only solution is to ban all hunting permanently.

G Caruana

Apr 26th 2012, 18:56

Minjaf il klieb imsieken x'jithawdu....I think it's time hunters had a word with the trappers, in all fairness they are the ones causing all this polemic, those planes are useless against hunters but ideal for trapping sites.

Saviour Vella

Apr 26th 2012, 18:55

In the coming months, I predict that there is going to be a good business for high range rifles.

Kevin Camilleri

Apr 26th 2012, 18:53

I'm pretty sure that Chuck Norris was involved in this :)

I think that CABS are being ridiculous now... and as a nation we are being more ridiculous by letting these foreigners invade our private property!

Johnny Xerri

Apr 26th 2012, 18:51

I am against illegal hunting...but there are means and methods for curbing illegal hunting...invading privacy is not one of them.

The police force is not even entitled to search your vehicle unless they have cause for concern...in a road block police cannot stop each and every vehicle just in case one contains; drugs, smuggled or stolen goods, weapons or anything else illegal.

The police cannot enter private property without a search warrant, from the competant authority.

CCTVs cannot be in place without warning signs.

Speed cameras cannot be in place without warning signs.

Likewise...if people have the above mentioned rights...we as hunters are entitled to teh same rights...we will not be spied upon and not persecuted just as normal citizens are not persecuted unless heavy suspion in the individual exists...and we shall not be spied upon just like others are not spied upon and are warned of cameras (CCTVs & speed cameras)...

Dione Pace

Apr 26th 2012, 18:51

F'hajja t'Alla!!! :)

R. Caruana

Apr 26th 2012, 18:51

Not that I'm defending anybody here but I thought Stalking & Vigilantism are against the law with.... No exception?!

Dione Pace

Apr 26th 2012, 18:47

SERVES YOU RIGHT !!!

Lawrence Fenech

Apr 26th 2012, 18:46

The best flying object shot down this season.

Andrea Damato

Apr 26th 2012, 18:45

Oh poor dear Cabs, how sorry I feel for them.

Hope that the bagging of this 'spying drone' was reported to Mepa via sms looool:)!!

Aristide Galea

Apr 26th 2012, 18:45

This drone should confiscated by the Police and legal action should be taken against those who were maken use of it . This is the type of arrogance that this Cabs pretend that it will be tollerated in our country . I am not a hunter or trapper , but enough is enough and this kind of interfernce from foreigners should be stopped immediately by the authorities .

Steve Schembri

Apr 26th 2012, 18:44

"A remote controlled aircraft which was being used by CABS to detect illegal hunting and trapping '
Are you sure that was all it was doing. Has anyone from the authorities that gave this intruder permission to our privacy "IF ANY" seen all of the footage. I really doubt this.

Victor Rodenas

Apr 26th 2012, 18:44

I think that this is just a gimmick,...a helicopter would do a better job.

CHARLES PISANI

Apr 26th 2012, 18:43

if you got nothing to hide let it fly....buttt....if i am in my pool with my friend topless...this mr pilot will detect it in my private property ? and maybe i finish on you tube ?

Joseph Brincat

Apr 26th 2012, 18:43

GOOD SHOT HE WOULD HAVE A GOLD MEDAL
TO MALTA IN OLYMPICS !!!!

J. Mifsud

Apr 26th 2012, 18:41

Maybe it was mistaken for a bird and the dogs ate it lol

A. Borg

Apr 26th 2012, 18:40

The wreckage was not found, despite the police being involved in the search.
Probabli hasibha tajra u se jibbalzma!

Mark Cutajar

Apr 26th 2012, 18:35

Wow 3 illegal trapping sites in 2 days..no wonder the ''law abiding hunters'' are getting irritated.

Yosef Scerri

Apr 26th 2012, 18:34

What goes up must come down!!!

Mr raynond ciancio

Apr 26th 2012, 18:33

hey what about data protection, what about if i was having a good time in a field and didn't want to be seen, is this not a perfect example of invasion of privacy???????????????

Anthony Formosa

Apr 26th 2012, 18:32

MAYDAY MAYDAY, We are sinking, What are you sinking about. To bring another one down in September.

Good shot at least hunters can be useful for WWIII.

silvio loporto

Apr 26th 2012, 18:32

Well you always say the motto of Maltese hunter is.
" If it fies shoot it"
They lived up to their motto,
What else?

Stefan Micallef

Apr 26th 2012, 18:32

Hahaha made my day!!

Mario Tabone

Apr 26th 2012, 18:29

Absolutely disgusting and typical Maltese mentality.
With the direct video links recorded it should be quite easy to determine the exact position of the illegal trapping site and where the shots are likely to have come from.
All the rubbish that was being dished out by pro hunting supporters regarding data protection and privacy is now not an issue anymore. The issue is that we now have a definite criminal offence that has taken place and the police should pull out all the stops to catch the person/s responsible for this.
If hunters think that by shooting down this model aircraft action against their illegalities will stop then the can think again !!

Johnny Xerri

Apr 26th 2012, 18:28

Many of the online anti hunting brigade yesturday commented that it was not a drone and that we infalted the matter as it was just a RC aircraft with a camera...now its a drone after all...

CABS could have checked for trapping sites any time they wanted but willingly did so only duiring the hunting season simply to provoke law abiding hunters....they had no footage of illegal targeting of protected birds so they provoked and incited the downing of the drone just to have some news item....cheap entertainment by an extremist fool.

By the way Dear Alex....how come its legal to kill raptors in your country and then you come all saintly on ours....maybe you would be given a much more welcome support at home and locally if you first sort out the legisaltion in your country...then you sort out the illegal poaching, poisoning and law breaking in your country...before critisizing us and playing police in our country.

Andy Farrugia

Apr 26th 2012, 18:26

Just asking: suppose one of these "spying" contraptions had to be flying over my roof or my garden, would I be acting lawfully if I had to bring it down by whatever means possible? Do the people operating these gadgets have a right to invade private territory (house, garden, field, mansion, etc)?

Mark Frankalanza

Apr 26th 2012, 18:25

illegal hunters are giving a bad name to other hunters. Thumbs up to stop ILLEGAL hunting.

Michael Magri

Apr 26th 2012, 18:25

Just for curiosity`s sake..

Is this `spying instrument` in the shape of an aeroplane, a legal and constitutional thing to do on the privacy of other Citizins..?

Jeffrey Mallia

Apr 26th 2012, 18:24

At least maltese hunters are Sharp shooters !! :)

Mario Attard

Apr 26th 2012, 18:23

WELL DONE HUNTERS ;]

Jesmond Farrugia

Apr 26th 2012, 18:22

Excellent PR for the hunters, constantly 'shooting themselves in the foot'!

Johnny Xerri

Apr 26th 2012, 18:22

"It was flying quite high, between 80 and 100 metres and we therefore think it was shot down with a rifle and not a shotgun," Axel Hirschfeld said.

Really Mr Hirchfeld...a rifle...erm...must be a real good marksman that shot it down...pull the other one...a rifle is a single projectile weapon...can you imagine taking aim at such a long distance and placing a single projectile...mathimatically calculating the speed of the drone...calculating the forward compansation...and exactly placing the bullet on target...shooting at a non moving object is hard enough at that distance....let alone at a moving one...

Ethelbert Schembri

Apr 26th 2012, 18:21

Don't think it's illegal to shoot drones or yes ????

MALCOLM SEYCHELL

Apr 26th 2012, 18:21

I am against illegal hunting but this is too much. These are foreigners interfering in our internal matters.

A. Schembri

Apr 26th 2012, 18:20

mandomx xjamlu...jdejqu il haddiehor..