Growing concern over rise in drone-related incidents near airports
Two drone sightings near London's Heathrow Airport are being investigated by police amid increased concerns over drones endangering passengers and calls for tougher rules and enforcement.  As we have noted, there has been a surge in the number of drone-related incidents reported around airports, raising fears over a potential collision with a catastrophic outcome. As at the end of August, there were 50 drone-related incidents year-to-date, compared to 29 in the whole of 2015, according to the UK Airport Board. 

Police are investigating reports of two drone sightings near Heathrow airport.



The sightings have prompted Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, and the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) to call for stronger rules and enforcement to stop people endangering passengers by flying drones near airports.

A flight crew reported one sighting “close to the approach” to the airport on Monday morning, while police received a second report of a sighting near the Queen Mother reservoir. It is not clear whether the sightings related to separate drones.



There has been a steep rise in the number of drone-related incidents reported around airports, raising concerns about the risk of a collision.

By the end of August there had been 50 drone-related incidents this year compared with 29 for the whole of 2015, according to the UK Airprox Board, which logs incidents where pilots or crew felt safety was at risk.

In April a pilot claimed his British Airways Airbus A320 had been hit by a drone as it came in to land at Heathrow, although the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, later told MPs the incident was unlikely to have been a collision with a drone.

In August, a flight carrying 62 people coming in to land at Newquay airport narrowly missed an unmanned aircraft that was being flown in a “reckless” manner.

A Heathrow spokesman said: “Anyone operating an unmanned aerial vehicle has an obligation to know the rules and ensure they are capable of operating it safely. Doing so in proximity to an airfield or aircraft is both illegal and clearly irresponsible.



“Stronger regulation and enforcement action must be a priority for the government to ensure that the airspace around British airports remains among the safest in the world.”

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said: “It is totally unacceptable to fly drones close to airports and other aircraft and anyone flouting the rules can face severe penalties including imprisonment.

“Drone users have to understand that when taking to the skies they are potentially flying close to one of the busiest areas of airspace in the world – a complex system that brings together all manner of aircraft, including passenger aeroplanes, military jets, helicopters, gliders and light aircraft.”

Steve Landells, a flight safety specialist at Balpa, said pilots were concerned about the “potential for catastrophe” posed by drones. “Pilots are pressing for better education and compulsory registration, during which the rules are made quite clear, and more high-profile prosecutions of offenders,” he said.

“We would like to see drones fitted with technology that would stop them being flown in the wrong places, automatically make them move out of the way if they get too close to other aircraft and, as a last resort, alert air traffic control and pilots of their presence so avoiding action can be taken to prevent a collision.

“Flying a drone in an irresponsible manner puts lives in danger and any offending drone should transmit enough data to allow the police to locate the operator, and if they have endangered another aircraft a prosecution should follow.”

A Metropolitan police spokesman said police were called shortly before 11am on Monday following reports that flight crew had seen a drone being flown close to the approach to Heathrow.

He added: “Officers received a further report that a drone had been seen in the area of the Queen Mother reservoir. Officers from the Met’s aviation policing are investigating.

“At this stage it is not believed that any aircraft were at risk. However, members of the public are advised to read guidance issued by the Civil Aviation Authority before flying a drone.”