The Directorate for Cultural Heritage has applied to the Civil Aviation Authority for a drone ban at 27 of Norway's 28 stave churches, according to multiple reports. Stave churches are among the buildings in Norway with the highest cultural-historical value, and the oldest have stood for nearly 900 years. The main reason for the proposed ban is the fire risk from drone crashes, as drones contain lithium batteries which are highly flammable and pose a significant fire hazard.
Lom stave church, one of the most visited, receives between 30,000 and 40,000 tourists annually, according to NRK Innlandet. Anne Kristin Stenersen, the church warden, told the broadcaster that tourists with drones are not a major problem, but occasionally a drone flies over the churchyard or church, operated by both Norwegians and foreign tourists. The church staff try to enforce a drone ban without legal backing and are usually met with understanding, but some people argue that there is no drone ban in place. No accidents have occurred at Lom stave church, but other stave churches have been hit by drones, Stenersen said.
For most stave churches, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage wants the drone ban to apply within a radius of 100 meters. Some stave churches want a larger ban zone to cover the entire churchyard. Undredal stave church is not included in the application because it does not experience the same pressure from tourist drone flying.
The proposal for a drone ban is warmly welcomed in Lom. According to NRK Innlandet, Stenersen described the application as long-awaited, adding that it would provide a legal basis for enforcement. The application has been sent to the Civil Aviation Authority, which must first process the case. It remains unclear when the authority will decide on the application or what specific penalties will apply for violating the ban.