Drones threatening commercial a/c?
Joined: May 2011
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From: Hampshire
My mistake Dave.
Although I read the CAA report, I was also looking at the BBC report.
Bad move! The BBC report says 14:16 BST. So I looked back through movements around 13:16 Z.
I should have paid attention to the time on the CAA report!
Although I read the CAA report, I was also looking at the BBC report.
Bad move! The BBC report says 14:16 BST. So I looked back through movements around 13:16 Z.
I should have paid attention to the time on the CAA report!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 852
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From: Brum
He stated that a small black object was seen to the left of the aircraft as they passed 700ft in the descent, which passed about 20ft
over the wing. It appeared to be a small radio-controlled helicopter.
over the wing. It appeared to be a small radio-controlled helicopter.
If the airprox board can't tell the difference, or use the correct terminology, then we're all in trouble...
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Brum
No, but if it was a helicopter it's very unlikely to have been flying on GPS. Either an R/C heli out of any control at all, or perhaps just a heli flyer being stupid.
If it was a multirotor, it's more likely to have been a nutter off the street being stupid...
Like I said, the actual type of vehicle is important, and I would have thought the airprox board would have been more careful with their choice of words...
Flying either manually at 700' would be extremely difficult, and impossible to judge if the vehicle was anywhere near (in height) to an airliner.
If it was a multirotor, it's more likely to have been a nutter off the street being stupid...
Like I said, the actual type of vehicle is important, and I would have thought the airprox board would have been more careful with their choice of words...
Flying either manually at 700' would be extremely difficult, and impossible to judge if the vehicle was anywhere near (in height) to an airliner.
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 288
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From: Nottingham
Drone/Heli/Multicopter
As a fixed wing RC aviator of 10 yrs standing I have had much joy and merriment watching RC heli pilots chase their recalcitrant wobble wokkers around the sky. Believe me any RC helicopter more than 400ft above launch point or 400 yards away from the pilot would be an unstable beastie and Mr Newton's laws being what they are the damn thing would fall out of the sky.
The incident suggests therefore a multirotor GPS capable craft with a decent battery performance. Ł350 from Maplins
Once again technical innovation has outstripped the legislation
The incident suggests therefore a multirotor GPS capable craft with a decent battery performance. Ł350 from Maplins
Once again technical innovation has outstripped the legislation
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,726
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From: The Winchester
If the airprox board can't tell the difference, or use the correct terminology, then we're all in trouble..
Like I said, the actual type of vehicle is important, and I would have thought the airprox board would have been more careful with their choice of words...
TBH with 140 (?) ish knots of closure on an object drone/RC helicopter size I'm not sure whether the originator of the report would really be able to tell with 100% confidence what it was, other than something went past with rotors on it, so I'd be inclined to cut the airprox board a bit of slack......
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: London
If the pilot were approaching at around 130kts, could he or she recognise anything that small with any reliability? Imagine such a thing placed on the hard shoulder of a motorway, and you drive past at 150 mph, would you see anything at all?
Nevertheless, I'm glad to see the torch of scrutiny shone on these gadgets and their daft owners (what happens if they fly out of range or the batteries in the controller fade?). Maybe Captain Sully could do a lecture tour on handling the inevitable....
Nevertheless, I'm glad to see the torch of scrutiny shone on these gadgets and their daft owners (what happens if they fly out of range or the batteries in the controller fade?). Maybe Captain Sully could do a lecture tour on handling the inevitable....
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Brum
I'm not sure whether the originator of the report would really be able to tell with 100% confidence what it was, other than something went past with rotors on it,
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 61
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From: Highbury, London
You say that half in jest, Herod, but you hit a nerve with me as that possibility has been on my mind.
In the May before the London Olympics, I was riding down an Islington back street one morning and was taking it easy over the ubiquitous speed humps. About to cross the last, I suddenly became aware of a moving black thing directly ahead and above; I initially thought, in the moment, that it was an exotic beetle flapping my way.
I fixed my gaze upon it and passed directly underneath; it was about 18" above my head. It was an object composed of two 5-bladed propellers, one atop the other and contra-rotating, made of a matt-black material with no visible joins. The propeller blades were long ovals and not pitched in any way, the whole thing being maybe 6" across at the very most.
It was absolutely ridiculous, no way could this thing fly. Yet it was sitting there as if cemented into the air with the props rotating slowly enough for me to count the blades. No wires, no power source, no visible join in the shaft between the props (very closely stacked).
Knowing that I'd just seen something breaking all the rules of normal, I rode on and didn't look back. The Heathrow "drone" near-miss report rang that bell for me pretty strongly, I have to say.
In the May before the London Olympics, I was riding down an Islington back street one morning and was taking it easy over the ubiquitous speed humps. About to cross the last, I suddenly became aware of a moving black thing directly ahead and above; I initially thought, in the moment, that it was an exotic beetle flapping my way.
I fixed my gaze upon it and passed directly underneath; it was about 18" above my head. It was an object composed of two 5-bladed propellers, one atop the other and contra-rotating, made of a matt-black material with no visible joins. The propeller blades were long ovals and not pitched in any way, the whole thing being maybe 6" across at the very most.
It was absolutely ridiculous, no way could this thing fly. Yet it was sitting there as if cemented into the air with the props rotating slowly enough for me to count the blades. No wires, no power source, no visible join in the shaft between the props (very closely stacked).
Knowing that I'd just seen something breaking all the rules of normal, I rode on and didn't look back. The Heathrow "drone" near-miss report rang that bell for me pretty strongly, I have to say.
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: On the Edge
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
I'll make a fortune selling these photos
Reported in Australian news on Thursday that a man was to be fined $850 for flying a drone above the scene of a siege in Melbourne's western suburbs recently.
Police were apparently negotiating with a man holed up in a house during a nine-hour siege, when the drone crashed into a power line and fell to the ground, nearly hitting an officer.
Police confiscated the drone and handed the case to CASA to prosecute.
As might be expected, CASA said they believed it was a member of the public trying to get pictures of the police operation.
"[It] hit a power line and [he] lost control of the drone, which really emphasises the danger of taking drones to inappropriate places like situations where emergency services are working"
Combine greed, thoughtlessness and a modicum of stupidity and the possibilities for disaster are unlimited.
Police were apparently negotiating with a man holed up in a house during a nine-hour siege, when the drone crashed into a power line and fell to the ground, nearly hitting an officer.
Police confiscated the drone and handed the case to CASA to prosecute.
As might be expected, CASA said they believed it was a member of the public trying to get pictures of the police operation.
"[It] hit a power line and [he] lost control of the drone, which really emphasises the danger of taking drones to inappropriate places like situations where emergency services are working"
Combine greed, thoughtlessness and a modicum of stupidity and the possibilities for disaster are unlimited.
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: SLF from NV (LAS)
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,256
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From: Canada
In similar vein...
Chinese military's response to unannounced commercial drones? Blow 'em out of the sky:
The Chinese Military's Response to Unannounced Drones: Blow 'Em Out of the Sky - WSJ
Chinese military's response to unannounced commercial drones? Blow 'em out of the sky:
Operated by employees of Beijing UAV Sci-Tech Co., the drone forced several commercial flights to alter their flight paths and caused others to be delayed.
According to reports in October, the People’s Liberation Army dispatched helicopters to force the drone down.
In Sunday’s report, the People’s Liberation Army Daily said the drone was in fact shot out of the air.
According to reports in October, the People’s Liberation Army dispatched helicopters to force the drone down.
In Sunday’s report, the People’s Liberation Army Daily said the drone was in fact shot out of the air.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,117
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From: On the western edge of The Moor
Spotted on another forum
I nipped up the road and noticed a drone (with camera) hovering
against the wind over the local bypass. Urgent shopping done,
I returned home, on the bypass I was overtaken by a huge 4x4
just after it passed me it became all brake lights as a drone
bounced off its windshield and hit the deck. I did not see where it
went, I was too busy avoiding the 4x4, the shape of things to come?
against the wind over the local bypass. Urgent shopping done,
I returned home, on the bypass I was overtaken by a huge 4x4
just after it passed me it became all brake lights as a drone
bounced off its windshield and hit the deck. I did not see where it
went, I was too busy avoiding the 4x4, the shape of things to come?