Alarming Increase In Near-Collisions Between Drones And Commercial Flights
- 9 years ago
Recently, pilots of commercial and private aircraft have reported more incidents of near collisions and close calls with drones.
The Federal Aviation Administration is trying to figure out how to regulate having more unmanned aerial vehicles or drones active in the skies.
Recently, pilots of commercial and private aircraft have reported more incidents of near collisions and close calls with small crafts.
According to the FAA, there have been about 25 near-crashes between drones and airplanes over the past six months since June 1st.
Before that, there had only been one reported case of a US Airways airplane almost hitting one 23 hundred feet above Florida on March 22nd.
Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers are also citing more cases of drones flying too close to airports, or in no-fly zones.
Greg Lynskey, a government relations manager for the Association of Air Medical Services is quoted as saying: “I’m hoping this can get worked out before we have a catastrophic incident. It wouldn’t take much to bring down a helicopter. If a drone hits the tail rotor, that’d pretty much be it.”
Current guidelines don’t allow commercial unmanned aerial devices to operate without a license, but hobbyists can fly drones under four hundred feet and at least five miles away from any airports.
The Federal Aviation Administration is trying to figure out how to regulate having more unmanned aerial vehicles or drones active in the skies.
Recently, pilots of commercial and private aircraft have reported more incidents of near collisions and close calls with small crafts.
According to the FAA, there have been about 25 near-crashes between drones and airplanes over the past six months since June 1st.
Before that, there had only been one reported case of a US Airways airplane almost hitting one 23 hundred feet above Florida on March 22nd.
Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers are also citing more cases of drones flying too close to airports, or in no-fly zones.
Greg Lynskey, a government relations manager for the Association of Air Medical Services is quoted as saying: “I’m hoping this can get worked out before we have a catastrophic incident. It wouldn’t take much to bring down a helicopter. If a drone hits the tail rotor, that’d pretty much be it.”
Current guidelines don’t allow commercial unmanned aerial devices to operate without a license, but hobbyists can fly drones under four hundred feet and at least five miles away from any airports.