BALPA:- Serious drone near misses prompts warning from pilots.

Press

Pilots say a spate of serious near misses involving drones highlights the need for urgent action to integrate them in to airspace safely and prevent a collision with other aircraft.

In December the UK Proximity Board looked at 7 incidents involving drones: 4 of which were classed as the most serious category A, where a serious risk of collision existed. In one case a drone came very close to colliding with a Boeing 737 which was climbing out of Stansted. Other category A incidents took place at Heathrow, London City and Manchester.

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. They say action must be taken now to ensure this doesn’t happen.

The British Airline Pilots Association is concerned the number of incidents could rise further over the next few months as people take their new Christmas presents in to the air for the first time, often with little or no handling experience or understanding of the rules of the air. It’s calling for stricter rules and a registration system so drone operators can be easily traced and prosecuted for any irresponsible flying. Pilots also want technology to stop drones from being able to fly in areas where they could meet commercial traffic to be routinely fitted to the devices.

BALPA Flight Safety Specialist Steve Landells says:

“Pilots can see that drones can be useful and fun to fly, but these near misses are becoming too regular an occurrence. We must act now to protect passengers and flight crew and make sure a catastrophic crash does not happen. The authorities must enforce current regulations and make sure new ones, such as compulsory insurance and registration, are brought in without delay.

“Pilots want to ensure technology to prevent drones from flying in areas of dense air traffic are put in place and also want drone designers to liaise with Air Traffic controllers to look at ways they can adapt drones to ensure they can be seen easily on radars.

“As the growth of drones flying by hobbyists continues, education and training are increasingly becoming key. Anyone flying a drone must do so in a safe and sensible way. If you don’t follow the rules or show consideration to others when flying you should be aware of the severe penalties you could face.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Air Proximity Risk Ratings

Risk level assessments are made on the basis of what actually took place and not on what may or may not have happened. There are four categories, A – D agreed at international level, and one UK category, E, as follows:

A	Risk of Collision: aircraft proximity in which serious risk of collision has existed.
B	Safety not assured: aircraft proximity in which the safety of the aircraft may have been compromised.
C	No risk of collision: aircraft proximity in which no risk of collision has existed.
D	Risk not determined: aircraft proximity in which insufficient information was available to determine the risk involved, or inconclusive or conflicting evidence precluded such determination.
E	Met the criteria for reporting but, by analysis, it was determined that normal procedures, safety standards and parameters pertained.