Close Calls Between Drones And Planes Have FAA Concerned
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Dangerously close. Days after new rules are proposed for drones to fly in the U.S., pilots are scared it's a collision waiting to happen. The FAA is reporting more and more near-misses in the skies.
Derek Valcourt with more on the alarming number of close calls.
These drones are generally pretty easy to get and relatively easy to use. They are becoming so common, officials worry it's a just matter of time before one collides with a real aircraft.
Every day, the FAA says there are an average of two incidents involving drones and manned aircraft. That's more than twice the monthly average reported last year.
Under the current rules, hobbyists can fly drones up to 400 feet. But according to the FAA, there have been some recent reports of drones reaching as high as 9,000 feet flying in the same airspace as commercial jets.
"We believe that there's a significant number of people that are out there that simply don't know what the rules are," said Michael Huerta, FAA administrator.
In some cases, pilots have had to alter course to avoid a drone collision.
"It's only a matter of time before more and more of these drones show up out here," said Captain Jeff Long, Sky Eye Chopper 13.
Captain Jeff spends almost every day soaring over Maryland. He says pilots in the sky talk to each other to avoid a collision, but have no way of knowing if they are near a drone.
"The other problem is our speed. As we move through the air--let's say we're going around a hundred knots--things happen rather quickly and a small item like that may not be visible until it's too late," he said.
These concerns are part of why the FAA released new proposed rules for the use of small drones.
Under these new regulations, drones could only fly up to 500 feet and 100 miles-per-hour during daylight hours. They must also remain within visual line of sight.
Operators would have to be at least 17 years old with an unmanned aircraft operator certificate.
The new proposed drone rules will not become final perhaps for at least another year--probably longer.
Under the new proposed rules, drones would not be allowed to fly within five miles of an airport without prior approval.
