Safety app to avoid drone near-misses

THE UK’S main air traffic control provider has created a mobile phone app that will help prevent near-misses involving drones.

Nats has updated its Drone Assist app to allow people preparing to fly the gadgets to share their route with other airspace users. Interactive maps highlighting areas where commercial aircraft operate will help to “reduce the risk of a drone-related incident”.

They also highlight ground-based hazards such as power lines and alert people to schools or sports venues.

Phil Binks, head of drones for Nats, said: “Drone use is continuously rising and, with increased reports of incidents near airports and aircraft, the more we can do to encourage responsible drone-flying, the better.”

The UK Airprox Board investigated 22 near-misses between aircraft and drones, balloons or unknown objects from January to April, with five deemed to be in the most severe risk category.

Drone operators planning to fly near these locations should “ideally avoid them or exercise great caution”, Nats said. Drones have been at the centre of thousands of “episodes” registered by police, including rows between neighbours, prison smuggling, burglary “scoping” exercises, mid-air nearmisses and snooping fears, with 3,456 episodes recorded last year, almost triple the 2015 figure of 1,237.