?ÿThe 6pm news story said the drone was at about 1500 foot .
http://www.kltv.com/story/38019745/ut-health-east-texas-aircraft-experiences-near-miss
This article is more complete:
http://www.kltv.com/story/38022644/tragedy-averted-after-drone-flies-through-helicopters-path
I agree so much with you.?ÿ I really have a lot of mixed feelings about the whole "drone" thing. Sure it is a great tool for us. We (surveyors) would use a UAV for appropriate uses. But man, there are a lot of dumb people (surveyors too) out there. I still think it is too easy to get a license to fly these things and they need to be regulated, more so than they are. Party pooper, yes I am. But mucking up airspace is the real deal with serious consequences.?ÿI am studying for my Part 107 test and this incident it exactly why the FAA makes you know all that stuff people think it is irrelevant.?ÿ
Rant off...
Respectfully disagree with the topic subject line. This however is a great reason to point out the necessity for licensure?ÿ for the use of drones, whether used for commercial purpose or not. Imagine a world where you can drive a car without studying laws revolving around driving unless you were charged with delivering pizza's, and yes there were a joke or two shoved in that comment.
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Respectfully disagree with the topic subject line.
I guess calling him/her a pilot would be an insult to the many pilots that take their position seriously.
James
One reason why filing a NOTAM isn't always a good idea is because it can attract attention. During an autonomous flight, I'd wanna get the job done quick without interruption and be done with the risky/flying portion. Monitoring/having a VHF radio is required and less than $400 bucks for a good handheld. Where I live the pilots who crash and kill people most seem to be small engine people. My point being that there is danger, risk, and poor judgement buzzing around in the sky regardless of who's piloting what.?ÿ
1500' is too high. That operator should be charged and heavily fined.
You can get one of the Chinese short wave radios for around $30.?ÿ I'm pretty sure they have the navcom frequencies on them.
As a private pilot with instrument and high performance endorsements, a drone operator, and rc airplane enthusiast, and a surveyor. I think the best regulation is no ops within 5 mile radius of ?ÿairports. Towered or not. Without NOTAM. ?ÿNext is to make the drone frangible. Plastic. Foam. Balsa. Etc. ?ÿFinally max weight of 8lbs or less.
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Birds are a hazard to aircraft. But aircraft are designed to cope with them. The miracle ?ÿon the Hudson and a couple other incidents were caused by flying through large flocks of birds. Not a single bird strike. ?ÿAll full scale pilots are constantly dodging buzzards, geese, or other birds when operating at or below 2k agl. I see a small drone as just another bird to avoid. ?ÿ?ÿ
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We hear all of these horror stories of near misses with drones. You haven??t heard of a single one actually striking a drone. And you don??t hear of the countless single bird strikes each year either.?ÿ
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I think it??s is much ado about nothing and often times its my butt and my passengers up there in ??harms way?.?ÿ
There is a verified collision last year between a Phantom 4 and an Army helicopter, the helo was damaged:
https://dronelife.com/2017/10/06/drone-operator-interviewed-blackhawk-helicopter-drone-collision/
There are plenty of regulations in place; more regulations likely won't prevent incidents like this, and engineering controls (geofencing, altitude limiters, etc.) aren't foolproof or infallible.
I had a scare a few weeks ago with a small private aircraft flying well below minimum altitude right thru the south end of my drone's flight pattern. The nearest airfield (private and uncontrolled) was more than 5 miles away, so no reason for it to be that low. There's always somebody who thinks the rules don't apply to them.
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More to the story:
N786DD was a 737 from what I was told. After the near miss with the medical helicopter, the drone kept going UP.
The FAA released this statement:
N913ET REPORTED A DRONE AT 1500FT AS HE WAS EXITING BRAVO AIRSPACE. N913ET REPORTED THE DRONE AT THE SAME ALTITUDE AND STATED THAT HE ALMOST HIT THE DRONE. TEN MINUTES LATER N786DD WAS ON FINAL FOR RWY 31R ABOUT 5 MILES OUT AND REPORTED SEEING A DRONE AT 1900FT RED IN COLOR AND SMALL.
