Dozens of Near Midair Collisions Between Drones and Planes

A new study shows that the potential of accidents between airplanes and drones is real. And it is not just real. Near misses have become a large problem.

According to a research paper titled “Drone Sightings and Close Encounters,” which covers data from December 17, 2013, to September 12, 2015, there were 158 incidents in which there was less than 200 feet between a drone and a maned aircraft

Part of the research showed:

We have organized these reports into two categories: Sightings, incidents in which a pilot or an air traffic controller spotted a drone flying within or near the flight paths of manned aircraft though not posing an immediate threat of collision, and Close Encounters, where a manned aircraft came close enough to a drone that it met the Federal Aviation Administration’s definition of a “near midair collision” or close enough that there was a possible danger of collision, even if an exact drone-to-aircraft distance was not reported. By these criteria, 35.5 percent of the incidents were Close Encounters, and 64.5 percent were Sightings.

And 51 incidents were those in which the drone and aircraft were within 50 feet of one another. In 28, the aircraft’s pilot had to change course to avoid a crash.

Among the most troubling parts of the study is that:

One hundred and sixteen of the Close Encounters involved multiengine jet aircraft, 90 of which were commercial aircraft (the majority of which have the capacity to carry 50 or more passengers). We also counted 38 Close Encounter incidents involving helicopters.

The study means that the drone/aircraft risk is an accident waiting to happen.