[Peetwo]

TICK TOCK goes the drone collision clock?? - 

Via the Oz: 

100 drones a day detected in Sydney Airport no fly zone



New data has revealed there were more than 100 drones a day detected in the no-fly zone at Sydney Airport in the year to June 30, up 22 per cent on the previous 12 months.

An Airservices Australia report on aviation activity showed more than 40,000 drone flights were picked up by detection equipment – more than double that of any other airport.

The report showed just over 5000 individual drones were responsible for the flights but the data did not distinguish between approved and illegal operations.

Adelaide was next, with 17,000 detections in the no-fly zone, followed by Brisbane Airport with more than 15,000.

No-fly zones refer to the area within 5.5km of airport runways.

Australian and International Pilots Association president Tony Lucas said the increase reported by Airservices was “significant cause for concern for airlines, their passengers and crew”.

“Drone use within the vicinity of airports can present a clear and present danger to commercial aviation,” Mr Lucas said.

“For pilots it’s very difficult to see something as small as a drone from the flight when we are on approach for landing.

“The impact of a collision between a drone and an aircraft has the potential to be catastrophic and all opportunities to mitigate this risk must be explored by the regulator.”



The report noted that December 2022 had the largest number of drone detections near airports on record, with 5258.

In the 12 months, the number of remote pilot licences issued climbed 187 per cent and average daily drone flights rose 16 per cent.

A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said where data indicated a high number of drone flights within the no-fly zone, education campaigns were undertaken including drone safety signage in local parks.

“It is important to note that most drone flyers try to do the right thing but sometimes are not aware that some parks or recreational areas which appear safe, are within 5.5km of an airport,” he said.

“We encourage users to find a location where they can safely fly by using one of the CASA-verified drone safety apps.”

Mr Lucas said the continuation of education by CASA on the risk drones posed to aviation safety was welcome.

“AIPA supports any further initiatives by CASA,” he said.

Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems executive director Greg Tyrrell said many of the drones operating in no fly-zones would have had approval from CASA.

“Drones are able to legally operate in the no-fly zones and they go through a process to get approvals,” Mr Tyrell said.

“That process has been automated which has been really good for industry, and has probably contributed to the increase.”

The more complex or “high risk” the drone activity, the more regulation operators faced, which Mr Tyrell said was how it should be.

“The regulations are proportional to the risk so for operators who want to fly bigger drones and in more complex situations – say out of the line of sight or at very high altitudes – the regulatory framework makes you jump through more hoops,” he said.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau data showed there were about 100 “accidents” involving drones last year and under 50 “near encounters” between drones and other aircraft.

The rate of accidents will skyrocket in the 2023 data, due to a single event in Melbourne on July 14 when 440 drones were destroyed.

The “swarm event” involved about 500 drones which were conducting a light show when a number experienced control issues in collisions with water and each other. The ATSB was investigating.

 
Hmm...time to dust off the old Purdey...

MTF...P2