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Study: Drones Present Minimal Threat To Aircraft (cio.com)
itwbennett writes: A study from George Mason University, which estimates danger from consumer drones, suggests that rules around private drone use could be relaxed without endangering general aviation. [Researcher] Eli Dourado [coupled] data on bird strikes with aircraft, with an estimate of the number of birds in airspace and the average weight per species of bird, and concluded that "a two-kilogram drone would cause an injury once every 187 million years of continuous operation."
Dourado admits there are some limitations to his estimate. While drones are crafted with plastic and metal, birds are generally softer and more likely to get squished on impact with an aircraft. However, birds are likely to be flying in flocks, where the danger of having several sucked into the engines is greater. US Airways flight 1549 was a prime example of this as the aircraft encountered numerous bird strikes which took out its engines, causing it to land in New York's Hudson River. In addition, the research doesn't include the possibility of someone maliciously trying to hit an aircraft.
Dourado admits there are some limitations to his estimate. While drones are crafted with plastic and metal, birds are generally softer and more likely to get squished on impact with an aircraft. However, birds are likely to be flying in flocks, where the danger of having several sucked into the engines is greater. US Airways flight 1549 was a prime example of this as the aircraft encountered numerous bird strikes which took out its engines, causing it to land in New York's Hudson River. In addition, the research doesn't include the possibility of someone maliciously trying to hit an aircraft.
Feb 19th 2016
An Air France Airbus A319-100, registration F-GKXT performing flight AF-1149 from Barcelona,SP (Spain) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (France), was on approach to CDG's runway 26L descending through 5500 feet while on downwind about 17nm eastsoutheast of CDG Airport, when the first officer spotted a drone at their 11 o'clock position, disconnected the autopilot and initiates an evasive maneouver calling out the drone to the captain. The captain sighted the drone, too, and estimated the drone passed about 5 meters/15 feet underneath their left hand wing.
Sep 30th 2015
A British Airways Airbus A319-100, registration G-EUOC performing flight BA-361 from Lyon (France) to London Heathrow,EN (UK), was on final approach to Heathrow's runway 09L descending through 500 feet MSL about 1.7nm before touchdown when the crew noticed a drone helicopter passing about 20-30 yard (18-27 meters) to the left of the cockpit and about 20-30 feet above the aircraft. The crew reported they had no time to react, the aircraft continued the final approach for a safe landing on Heathrow's runway 09L.
Sep 25th 2015
An Air New Zealand Airbus A320-200, registration ZK-OXB performing flight NZ-542 from Christchurch to Auckland (New Zealand) with 166 people on board, was climbing through 6000 feet out of Christchurch, about 10nm northeast of Christchurch between the villages of Kaiapoi, Woodend and Rangiora, when the crew spotted a red drone at their altitude passing close by.
Sep 22nd 2015
A British Airways Boeing 777-200, registration G-YMMF performing flight BA-273 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to San Diego,CA (USA), was climbing through 2000 feet out of London Heathrow's runway 27R when the captain caught glimpse of a drone for about 1 to 2 seconds passing the aircraft at the same altitude within a wing span (25 meters) to the right of the aircraft.
Sep 19th 2015
A Finnair Embraer ERJ-190, registration OH-LKP performing flight AY-855 from Helsinki (Finland) to Hamburg (Germany) with 80 passengers and 4 crew, was on final approach to Hamburg's runway 23 descending through about 800 feet AGL when the crew reported passing a drone at same height and about 100 feet horizontally from their position. The aircraft continued for a safe landing.
Sep 13th 2015
A BA Cityflyer Embraer ERJ-170, registration G-LCYD performing flight BA-2284 from Geneva (Switzerland) to London City,EN (UK) with 76 people on board, was on approach to London's City Airport descending through 2000 feet when the crew was advised of a helicopter ahead below them, which soon triggered a TCAS traffic advisory. While looking out for the conflicting traffic and acquiring visual contact the crew also sighted an object believed to be a balloon about half a mile ahead. The object passed slightly below the left hand side of the aircraft and, as it came nearer, was identified as a silver drone with a balloon like body and 4 rotors on each of its corners (quadrocopter).
Jul 31st 2015
A Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-88, registration N907DL performing flight DL-407 from Orlando,FL to New York JFK,NY (USA) with 154 passengers and 5 crew, was on a VOR approach to runway 13L when the crew reported they had an encounter with a drone just to the southwest of "that abandoned airfield" (referring to Barren Island), the drone was flying about 100 feet below them at their right wing. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 13L about 2-3 minutes later.
Jul 20th 2015
A Lufthansa Embraer ERJ-195, registration D-AEBD performing flight LH-1614 from Munich (Germany) to Warsaw (Poland) with 108 passengers and 5 crew, was on final approach to Warsaw's runway 33 descending through 2500 feet at ILS DME 6.5nm when the crew reported in quite aggravated/shocked tone that they had just had a near collision with a drone, definitely a drone, at DME 6.5nm at 2500 feet, the drone passed in about 100 meters distance, th