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FAA Warns More Drones Are Flying Near Airports (fortune.com)
Between February and September of 2016, there were 1,274 reports of drones near airports -- versus just 874 for the same period in 2015, according to newly-released FAA research. "The report detailed more than 1,200 incidents of airplane pilots, law enforcement, air traffic controllers, and U.S. citizens reporting drones flying in places they shouldn't," writes Fortune. An anonymous reader quotes their report:
One of takeaway of the report was that while the FAA has received several reports from pilots that drones may have hit their aircraft, the administration was unable to verify any such claim. "Every investigation has found the reported collisions were either birds, impact with other items such as wires and posts, or structural failure not related to colliding with an unmanned aircraft," the FAA said in a statement... Although a drone hasn't smashed into an airplane yet, the FAA "wants to send a clear message that operating drones around airplanes and helicopters is dangerous and illegal. Unauthorized operators may be subject to stiff fines and criminal charges, including possible jail time," the FAA said.
And for all of you complaining that *every* story references Trump in the first five comments, don't vote for him next time.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
Like the drone hit , that turned out to be a plastic bag . https://arstechnica.com/inform...
While I don't know of any incidents within the US, I have seen at least one case where a drone collision actually occurred:
http://avherald.com/h?article=...
There is no XUL, only WebExtensions...
Drones are the equivalent of deer.
"Hello? Insurance company? Ya...I hit a deer and I need a new grill, hood, and bumper."
When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
Last week I passed my "part 107" certification for commercial sUAS pilot. The main driver for me doing this is because I might someday want to fly in airspace that is off limits to a hobbyist pilot. As a hobbyist, you're required to get permission (good luck with that) to fly within 5 miles of any airport (including heliports and grass strips), and forbidden from flying in controlled airspace. With certification you can fly just about anywhere in class G airspace and there's a process (that will soon get much simpler) to get permission to fly in class B, C, D and E airspace. Now if airmen spot an sUAS under them when flying near an airport that might or might not be a problem. As a practical matter, it isn't a good idea to fly just for the heck of it, but there is certainly permitted activity. And almost all activity is well below the hard 400' AGL limit imposed by the FAA anyway, at least for what most of us want to do with drones.
That said, the industry should be doing more to educate pilots, especially now that the FAA has set up rules and fines. Just having an EULA-like "I agree to be a good boy" checkbox isn't enough. And I'm not necessarily in favor of drones being sold in big box retailers either. You won't buy a Cessna like you would an Chevy and you shouldn't buy a drone the same way you'd buy an Xbox. Manufacturers need to be held a little more responsible for their products. These things can potentially do a lot of damage (imagine a 15 lb drone crashing through a roof and then the damaged battery shorting out and catching fire). Most of the people I know think that because they're somewhat easy to fly that means they're not dangerous. When they work, they work great. But there's not too many recoverable failure modes and when something goes wrong, they drop out of the sky like an expensive rock.
"Well, good luck finding a judge that doesn't run a bestiality site."
Idiots fly drones near airports. Don't be an idiot.
The FAA must be referring only to incidents in the U.S. Here's a video of a drone striking the winglet of a commercial airliner, and I can only assume it happened outside the U.S.; I don't recognize the city in the background.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
It's the first clip, the strike happens at about 30s. Scary.
Cheers, Tim -- Tim Janke Part mad scientist, part lion tamer: sr. software engineer, global team leader, project mana
I don't get why they just don't tell the DoD to stop flying their drones where they shouldn't? OHHHHHHH!!!!! THEY MUST MEAN QUADCOPTERS! NOT 'DRONES' AT ALL!!!
Here's a video by the author of how he created this "drone strike video."
https://youtu.be/GS3nb4bwHKQ
Actually no. I went out and engaged in another activity other than sitting in front of my PC all day.
Since you know everything, go ahead and call over to KDEN and let them know that you'll be flying for a few hours near the Mt Elbert shuttle lot. But make sure they know that you're flying as a hobbyist so that it's all OK.
The rules changed last August for everyone, not just commercial guys.
"Well, good luck finding a judge that doesn't run a bestiality site."
Actually no. I went out and engaged in another activity other than sitting in front of my PC all day.
I didn't actually imply that I hurt your feelings. But clearly I insulted someone.
The rules changed last August for everyone, not just commercial guys.
Yeah, that's when the AMA published this information. Last August.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
I'm not necessarily in favor of drones being sold in big box retailers either. These things can potentially do a lot of damage (imagine a 15 lb drone crashing through a roof
That's hilarious. The larger size quadcopters sold by big box retailers are closer 15 OUNCES, not 15 POUNDS. The biggest I found was 38 ounces (1000 grams). When I mess up with my quad, it *can* damage some leaves. A hobby drone crash through a roof? I doubt it would crash through a piece of paper. I may test that to see.
If you actually got certified, that's scary because others have pointed out you're clueless about even the most basic laws, and it's apparent you've never so much as picked up a drone at the store. It's ounces of plastic bro, chill out.
Target sells the Phantom 3 and Parrot drones. Best Buy sells DJI and Yuneec drones. All of which are more than .55 pounds.
"Well, good luck finding a judge that doesn't run a bestiality site."
Yes, those are the bigger drones sold in big box stores. You mentioned Parrot as an example - I'm guessing you had the Parrot AR 2.0 in mind (Parrot also makes much smaller ones). That's still under a pound, of plastic. Not 15 pounds of steel or anything that would even damage a shingle, much less "crash through a roof".
If drones are going to be sold to children, they need to be made safe for use by children. Just a fact and doing anything else is really stupid.
Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
If there were no documented collisions of a quadcopter and an airplane, why not to try to create it. For example, a flying DJI Phantom with the weight 1.2 kg and an airplane wing moving on rails. And see what happens. The FAA colleagues could do it first, and then print 700 pages regulations.
> Toys that deserve a modicum of respect.
Respect, yes, of course.
> I wouldn't want to get smacked by the props on one, and a phantom is no joke.
Two weeks ago I did something kinda stupid. I stuck my hand in the prop of a Phantom-sized one as it was flying. This was one that has parts interchangeable with a Phantom, a clone or knock off. Anyway while it was hovering a sudden wind gust sent it toward my two year old daughter. Parental instinct kicked in and I snatched it out the air. Acting immediately, instinctively, I didn't think to grab it from the bottom, I just reached out and grabbed the arm of the drone, putting my fingers right through the spinning prop.
Fortunately, the manufacturers of these sub-$2000 drones have thought to use soft plastic for the props. The finger that took the force of the prop hurt for several minutes. There was a very small but very dark "bruise" where the edge of the prop hit my finger, a little pocket of blood under the skin. It takes two weeks for a bruise like that to come to the surface and disappear. I'd rate it similar to closing an interior door on your hand. It hurt significantly less than hitting your thumb with a hammer, maybe similar to a mousetrap.
So yeah, I try to fly safe, and I very much would not want one those props to hit my daughter. On the other hand, from experience I'd rather grab a spinning prop than hit my thumb with a hammer.
I may practice grabbing one with an underhand motion, though, coming up from the bottom and grabbing a leg. A lot of people routinely catch them that way.
You have no idea just how absurd what you're saying is. Airports are big. I mean really big. Even the smallest airport I've been to is big. It's very unlikely you'd ever be able to get close enough for bird shot to do anything. If a drone is in your backyard - yea, you have a chance. Airport - we'd be laughing at you.
Might be good for a weight loss program, however.
I said that it's not like accidentally hitting your hand with a hammer. A couple hours later, I accidentally hit my hand with a hammer.
I think I should point out that it's also not like making love to Sofia Vergara.
I can't wait to see what happens in a couple hours.
Have you ever seen the aftermath of a bird strike on an aeroplane?
Not only is it possible to prove when a bird didn't hit a plane, it's obvious.
Bless Your Heart.