PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Drone officially operated in UK civilian airspace
Old 16th Oct 2015, 10:31
  #8 (permalink)  
TCAS FAN
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: 50+ north
Posts: 1,254
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Lets put this whole "drone" issue into perspective.

The Watchkeeper UAS is not a model aeroplane weighing a few KG that you buy on line or some guy down the pub, its max take-off weight is around 485 KG. Operation of the aircraft is regulated by the MAA using trained and thereby competent pilots, again not by idiots who may be trying to impress their mates and who also have no idea about controlled airspace, rules of the air etc..

To fly in controlled airspace it must comply with ATC instructions, just as if it was a manned aircraft. It is accordingly required to maintain the ATC assigned level, and if necessary radar vectors. So no chance of bumping into it, unless you are incapable of complying with ATC instructions and don't have TCAS! (Watchkeeper is SSR transponder equipped)

So please no more uninformed comments about drones on this thread!

What has been achieved by the Watchkeeper team at West Wales Airport (its home base) is another significant step forward in the development of the UAS industry in the UK.
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