A US Airways Express Flight Nearly Collided With a Drone
May 9, 2014, 3:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SAN/LAX
Programs: UA Gold, VX Silver, HH Gold, Hyatt Gold, JPM Palladium
Posts: 627
A US Airways Express Flight Nearly Collided With a Drone
FAA officials have confirmed that a US Airways Express jet nearly collided with a small, remotely controlled drone in Tallahassee, FL at the end of March. The pilot reported seeing the camo-painted drone fly so close that he was sure an impact was very likely. In situations like that, it is also very likely that a drone could get pulled into the jet's engine.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayi...march/8904829/
Is wrong of me to assume that common sense would keep the average Joe from taking his RC drone out for a day of flying near a commercial airport?
SMH
http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayi...march/8904829/
Is wrong of me to assume that common sense would keep the average Joe from taking his RC drone out for a day of flying near a commercial airport?
SMH
May 9, 2014, 3:37 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Its only going to get worse as more and more are up in the air.
May 9, 2014, 3:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Kitchener, ON, Canada
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,266
As an avid, responsible 'drone' flyer (using them for commercial purposes is legal here in Canada, under certain conditions) I get angry when I see crap like this because it ruins it for everyone else.
It's like cyclists who complain about cars not respecting their space, but then riding on the sidewalk or running stoplights like the rules don't apply to them. Sometimes, we are all our own worst enemy.
It's like cyclists who complain about cars not respecting their space, but then riding on the sidewalk or running stoplights like the rules don't apply to them. Sometimes, we are all our own worst enemy.
May 9, 2014, 4:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AS, US, Hilton, BA, DL, SPG, AA, VS
Posts: 1,628
May 9, 2014, 4:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL plat
Posts: 316
Tragedy of the commons.
May 9, 2014, 4:32 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 30,984
May 9, 2014, 4:44 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
As an avid, responsible 'drone' flyer (using them for commercial purposes is legal here in Canada, under certain conditions) I get angry when I see crap like this because it ruins it for everyone else.
It's like cyclists who complain about cars not respecting their space, but then riding on the sidewalk or running stoplights like the rules don't apply to them. Sometimes, we are all our own worst enemy.
It's like cyclists who complain about cars not respecting their space, but then riding on the sidewalk or running stoplights like the rules don't apply to them. Sometimes, we are all our own worst enemy.
May 9, 2014, 6:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: ORY/PCT
Programs: AA 1MM, AF Plat, VS Gold, Hyatt Glob, Sixt Diamond, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 1,150
deleted
Last edited by bennytma; May 9, 2014 at 6:20 pm Reason: off topic
May 9, 2014, 10:57 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 3
An RC and "drone" are quite different, this is just the media trying to scare the public into jumping onboard the "all drones are evil" way of thinking, which is evident by the way they throw that term around for a simple remote controlled hobby airplane. This was just some clown with a remote controlled plane flying around an airport, these incidents are nothing new and have been going on for decades. "Drones" as flown by the military and contracting companies have very strict regulations right now as they attempt to implement them into the national air space.
Agree with Boogie and the others about common sense, but this article has nothing to do with unmanned aerial vehicles/systems, aka "drones."
Agree with Boogie and the others about common sense, but this article has nothing to do with unmanned aerial vehicles/systems, aka "drones."
May 9, 2014, 11:32 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: DRO
Programs: AS MVP, A3*S
Posts: 521
But god forbid you jump in a taxi in a bicycle lane...
Oh, right, so we're talking about drones.
Last edited by AS MHT; May 9, 2014 at 11:40 pm
May 10, 2014, 11:20 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 657
Tallahasse just is not that big and this is probably the only F4 in town. If the FAA is interested in locating the pilot, they should send an investigator to the local RC club flying venue at the abandoned county landfill on any Saturday morning to start asking questions.
Once the story gets out, justice will be swift.
Once the story gets out, justice will be swift.
May 10, 2014, 1:58 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,457
An RC and "drone" are quite different, this is just the media trying to scare the public into jumping onboard the "all drones are evil" way of thinking, which is evident by the way they throw that term around for a simple remote controlled hobby airplane. This was just some clown with a remote controlled plane flying around an airport, these incidents are nothing new and have been going on for decades. "Drones" as flown by the military and contracting companies have very strict regulations right now as they attempt to implement them into the national air space.
Agree with Boogie and the others about common sense, but this article has nothing to do with unmanned aerial vehicles/systems, aka "drones."
Agree with Boogie and the others about common sense, but this article has nothing to do with unmanned aerial vehicles/systems, aka "drones."
The media must be educated along with all of us. Your explanations are quite interesting. Present them in a positive manner and people will listen.
May 10, 2014, 4:32 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,634
The media isn't trying to scare the public. They're trying to desensitize the public to the word so that they won't protest the military's use of UAVs.
A "drone" is an unmanned autonomous vehicle. The military UAVs fit this description as they can be programmed and left alone to carry out a task. A radio controlled airplane/helicopter/quadcopter, etc is NOT a "drone" because it is not autonomous. There needs to be someone at the controls at all times. Also, radio controlled helicopters are made of lightweight plastics and styrofoam. It is likely that a collision would result in less damage than a bird strike.
A "drone" is an unmanned autonomous vehicle. The military UAVs fit this description as they can be programmed and left alone to carry out a task. A radio controlled airplane/helicopter/quadcopter, etc is NOT a "drone" because it is not autonomous. There needs to be someone at the controls at all times. Also, radio controlled helicopters are made of lightweight plastics and styrofoam. It is likely that a collision would result in less damage than a bird strike.
May 11, 2014, 5:06 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA Bronze
Posts: 1,026
Apparently the model plane / "drone" was flying at 2,300 ft, five miles from the airport. Apart from being so close to the airport, why on earth was this thing being flown at 2,300 ft..?
May 11, 2014, 5:43 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Admirals Club member
Posts: 418
A few random thoughts/questions:
Has it been determined if this was an RC airplane or a helicopter? Is every helicopter now a drone?
Also, I'm surprised that a pilot going 175+ mph could identify an object that small, no matter how close it got.
I'm not trying to minimize, but this whole thing seems to be getting sensationalistic. An RC hobby aircraft at worst might break a prop, but a lot has to line up right for that to happen. And the plane would still land safely.
Has it been determined if this was an RC airplane or a helicopter? Is every helicopter now a drone?
Also, I'm surprised that a pilot going 175+ mph could identify an object that small, no matter how close it got.
I'm not trying to minimize, but this whole thing seems to be getting sensationalistic. An RC hobby aircraft at worst might break a prop, but a lot has to line up right for that to happen. And the plane would still land safely.
