With Nick Ferrari live on #LBC at around 7:45am Monday we'll be discussing UAVs , RPAS, Shadow Hawks. even Cops with tasers mounted on... #DRONES
A passenger plane reportedly had a near miss with an unmanned drone which covertly breached the Heathrow perimeter as the passenger aircraft landed at London Heathrow, in the very first such incident recorded at the UKs' biggest airport.
The reported near miss involved an Airbus A320, which can carry some 180 passengers,
The aircraft was at on finals at 700ft at 2.16pm on July 22 when the pilot looking out of ghis flight deck window saw the drone, which had not appeared on air traffic control radar.
Following reported earlier concerns over relaxed licencing of commercial drone RPAS - Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems technology, (as highlighted last month by Julian Bray Aviation Security expert) commercial aviation pilots are now forcefully warning that Britain needs tougher regulations on drone technology and also enhanced security measures on the ground, to avoid them being seized by force or controlled by hacking into electronic computer systems.
The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) points out that drone technology is developing quickly. RPAS units (drones) the size of small passenger planes could be operated commercially in UK airspace within the next decade.
BALPA warned that even small RPAS can cause injury and/or death if control over them is lost. Such as being blown by windshear and out of the range of a remote controller. Therefore, they must meet the same safety standards as piloted aircraft. BALPA say there should be a public consultation.
‘Killer robots’: Ex-GCHQ boss calls for drone controls
“The UK should become a ‘safe drone zone’ so we can make the most of the major business and leisure opportunities offered by remotely piloted aircraft, while protecting passengers, pilots and residents,” BALPA General Secretary Jim McAuslan speaking to the BBC: “Large unmanned aircraft, when they come, should be as safe as manned aircraft and the British public should be fully consulted before companies fly large, remotely-piloted aircraft over their homes alongside passenger planes.”
A Department for Transport spokesman told the BBC that civilian drones are strictly regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority and are treated in the same manner as equivalent manned aircraft. Julian Brtay comments: In reality this is isn't strictly true. This Christmas high street electronics stores such as Maplins expect RPAS to be a best seller with the larger models able to carry a small Payload such as a camera or package.
Meanwhile in the USA:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2014
Contact: Les Dorr or Alison Duquette
Phone: 202-267-3883
FAA Grants Five More Commercial UAS Exemptions
WASHINGTON – The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today granted five regulatory exemptions for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations to four companies representing several industries that promise to benefit from UAS technology.
The four companies that received exemptions want to fly UAS to perform operations for aerial surveying, construction site monitoring and oil rig flare stack inspections.
“Unmanned aircraft offer a tremendous opportunity to spur innovation and economic activity by enabling many businesses to develop better products and services for their customers and the American public,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “We want to foster commercial uses of this exciting technology while taking a responsible approach to the safety of America’s airspace.”
The commercial entities that received exemptions today are Trimble Navigation Limited, VDOS Global, LLC, Clayco, Inc. and Woolpert, Inc. (two exemptions). The FAA earlier granted exemptions to seven film and video production companies.
Secretary Foxx found that the UAS in the proposed operations do not need an FAA-issued certificate of airworthiness because they do not pose a threat to national airspace users or national security. Those findings are permitted under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.
The firms also asked the FAA to grant exemptions from regulations that address general flight rules, pilot certificate requirements, manuals, maintenance and equipment mandates. In their petitions, the firms said they will operate UAS weighing less than 55 pounds and keep the UAS within line of sight at all times.
In granting the exemptions, the FAA considered the operating environments and required certain conditions and limitations to assure the safe operation of these UAS in the National Airspace System. The agency also will issue Certificates of Waiver or Authorization (COAs) that mandate flight rules and timely reports of any accident or incidents..
“The FAA’s first priority is the safety of our nation’s aviation system,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “Today’s exemptions are a step toward integrating UAS operations safely.”
As of today, the agency has received 167 requests for exemptions from commercial entities.
You can view the FAA’s exemption grants at http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/
For more information on the FAA and UAS, go to http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/
JULIAN BRAY 01733 345581, Journalist, Broadcaster, Aviation Security & Operations, Travel / Cruise Industry Expert, EQUITY, NUJ, Broadcast ISDN 01733 345020 SKYPE: JULIAN.BRAY.UK e&oe > Updates are on the Website
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