Here in the US the FAA keeps public logs of "drone" sightings, and some are ridiculously far from the aircraft (keep in mind that these multirotors don't move 500 mph like the aircraft, so they are a blur close, and too tiny to see very far away), 20,000'+ up, or they have sighted them going under the left wing when anybody in that model of aircraft can tell you that unless you have x-ray vision there is no seeing your wings.
Yet another commercial aircraft reporting a " Class A Drone Infringement" ( I use the BBC app on iPad so cannot give links) the pilots states the "drone" was a silver cigar shape with 4 motors on the corners - (I take it there were 16 motors!)
Latest report in the UK Daily Mail...
A drone came within 50 feet of a passenger plane near Manchester Airport.
An aviation watchdog said it was one of three 'near-misses' in Manchester last year. The drone was reported to be hovering at 2,800 ft to 2,400ft above the legal height limit. Experts have warned that it could have been 'catastrophic' if the drone had gone into an engine, as it could have exploded.
The plane was starting a descent into Manchester when the pilot spotted the bright blue drone in front of the cockpit.
It was travelling at around 184mph when crew spotted the drone ahead of them while looking out for a helicopter in the area, according to Jeremy Armstrong at the
Daily Mirror.
The incident was recorded as a Category A - in which serious risk of collision has existed.
And experts are warning the risk of a collision will increase as drones grow in popularity and sophistication.
Former pilot Stephen Landells, of the British Airlines Pilot Association (Balpa), said: 'The Manchester incident was very worrying. If one went down an engine of a commercial airline, it would almost certainly stop the engine but would it crash? We don't know.
'But because of the big lithium iron battery it could make the engine explode and anything could happen – bits of metal could poke holes in the aircraft. If you are in an aircraft doing 100 mph and there's this tiny thing moving slowly you don't have time to react.'
Another spokesperson for Balpa added: 'Pilots say they welcome the growth in drone technology and can see important applications for them commercially and recreationally, but a collision with a commercial airliner or helicopter could be catastrophic.'
An airport spokesman said: 'If drones pass into our airspace they can cause issues which may result in delays. We have worked closely with our partners to bring in new policies around maintaining safe operations in the event of drone sightings. Permission will always be needed. We take any breaches by the public incredibly seriously.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/t...perts-warning-catastrophic.html#ixzz3yww6mRwk
My spin on this sudden rush of reports is that - somebody is spinning these stories to justify planned legislation - and as the UK as a really slow cumbersome political process to implement new paws - it could be well over 12 months before a draft is ready. That said the UK Civil Aviation authorities could implement regulations faster.
The real problem is and always will be that type of person who actually knows and understand his or her obligations when out flying their "models" but is more about doing stupid things because they think they can get away with it. Sadly these types will always be among us as they are in any sport, hobby or pastime. And legislation will not stop them.
- which idiot thought that was ever a good idea, I hope it's not one of you guys !
