Bring law and order to drone danger in the sky
SIR – There is concern about the numbers and safety of drones. Part of the solution should be to make it necessary to hold an operator’s licence (requiring a test) and to have each machine registered with a unique identity number.
While not a perfect system, a licence would ensure that the operator had an appreciation of the dangers a drone can cause. A requirement for an annual licence might ensure that numbers are kept in reasonable check.
Andrew J Smith
West Malling, Kent
SIR – The development of drone technology is to be welcomed, but they are not a panacea in all situations. They are certainly very useful, for example, when used to assist the fire service to direct their jets of water when fighting fires.
But, when searching for missing persons in a large area, the currently available drones are restricted by their limited flight endurance, measured in minutes rather than hours. They are also vulnerable to rain and high winds.
In these situations the manned aircraft is still the best way of getting an eye in the sky.
For water rescue, a drone may drop a flotation aid to a person in danger of drowning, but a lifeguard with a jet-ski can save the person and take them back to shore. James A Cowan
Belmont, Co Durham