THEY CAME FROM THE SKIES

The proliferation of UAVS is undoubtedly a serious safety hazard in our controlled airspace. Now that they have cameras and a menacing name, these drones are set to be very popular in South Africa. The United States, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), predicts there will be thousands of civilian cargo drones in US airspace by 2018.

The drone expansion from military to commercial and, in recent years, to civilian activity is becoming a real and growing threat to the safety of commercial aviation as stated by IATA at the Singapore Air Show in 2016. A British Airways flight from Geneva with 137 passengers and crew on board had a near-miss. The drone actually struck the aircraft before landing.

A drone was recorded delivering illegal drugs to inmates at Wandsworth prison in London and another narrowly missed a Boeing 737 after it took off from Stansted Airport in the UK. Our authorities must make sure that the radio spectrum used to control drones does not interfere with our air traffic control systems. Electronic jamming and laser systems are available, as a last resort. Incidents in the US reveal drones hindering emergency services in their efforts to fight fires.

Reports compiled by the FAA reveal the following:

l From 22 August 2015 through to 31 January 2016, 600 drones flew too close for comfort to airports and airborne planes.

l From 13 November 2014 to 20 August 2016, there were 746 similar drone incidents.

l From December 2013 to September 2016, there were 28 incidents involving pilots taking evasive action to avoid drones while flying.

The Civil Aviation Administration in South Africa must take the threats of drones and powerful laser pointers seriously to avoid aviation tragedies. FAROUK ARAIE JOHANNESBURG