Droning on...

[Chock 17,769]

Heathrow Airport was closed down for a few hours last night because of a drone flying on the approach. Apparently there was a police helicopter trying to locate the operator, but I don't know how that ended. Because of the closure, Gatwick got a lot of diversionary traffic to the point where it could not take any more flights, and then they started coming up to us at Manchester and to a few other airports, forcing us to deal with some flights we were not expecting as well as causing us to tow off some aircraft from the stands on pier C to make way for other potential diversionary traffic. Then of course the passengers had to be catered for, transported by buses etc. So thanks for that, whoever the dumbass operating that drone was.

Edited December 20, 2018 by Chock

[anden145 2,285]

Wow! You never realize the implications... 😮

Edited December 20, 2018 by Anders Bermann

[HiFlyer 9,343]

Off the top of my head, wouldn't drones operate on certain standard frequencies susceptible to being interfered with locally? Drone operators would probably be a lot more careful if their toys were dropping out of the skies in certain areas and not being returned.....

[anden145 2,285]

Has this happened again - this time over London Gatwick?! 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-46623754

I can see, flights being delayed/cancelled and arriving planes being diverted to LHR and AMS...

Edited December 20, 2018 by Anders Bermann

[ErichB 3,638]

What a bloody mess.  It's only a matter of time before drones are banned for private use or will have mandatory tracking and ID sensors of some kind.

[Jetset408 108]

Gatwick. Not Heathrow. And still closed. 

Edited December 20, 2018 by Jetset408

[anden145 2,285]

26 minutes ago, Jetset408 said:

Gatwick. Not Heathrow. And still closed. 

So it's Gatwick, Not Heathrow it happened?! 

Wonder why it's still closed... Flights are being diverted... currently BA2262 is just circling over the English Channel... 

[TonyD 131]

European air traffic management group Eurocontrol said the runway would remain closed until 11:00 .

[anden145 2,285]

From Eurocontrol:

EGKK( Gatwick)
Airfield unavailable due to drones in the area till 1200 UTC.
High delays.

[Ray Proudfoot 8,931]

At a monthly meeting of flight sim enthusiasts on Saturday in Heald Green (1 mile out from EGCC and right under the flight path) a member brought his new drone. He wasn’t able to demonstrate it as it’s sophisticated enough to know he is inside a restricted area and it won’t respond to commands. It should be illegal to sell or own drones that don’t have that technology.

[ErichB 3,638]

53 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

At a monthly meeting of flight sim enthusiasts on Saturday in Heald Green (1 mile out from EGCC and right under the flight path) a member brought his new drone. He wasn’t able to demonstrate it as it’s sophisticated enough to know he is inside a restricted area and it won’t respond to commands. It should be illegal to sell or own drones that don’t have that technology.

The problem is, people with intent to disrupt or just be numpties will always find ways around that.  This is why, giving  the common man free reign to do as he pleases on the basis that he'll apply sound judgement is becoming an increasingly bad idea.

[Ray Proudfoot 8,931]

1 hour ago, ErichB said:

The problem is, people with intent to disrupt or just be numpties will always find ways around that.  This is why, giving  the common man free reign to do as he pleases on the basis that he'll apply sound judgement is becoming an increasingly bad idea.

The technology is built in to the drone and your average owner won't have the ability to break into it. There are always idiots in all walks of life. The problem as I see it is the law has been slow to respond to the potential damage drones can do in irresponsible hands.

[ErichB 3,638]

This seems to be a deliberate attempt to cause disruption.  More drones spotted and they don't think it'll be resolved until 4pm.  Crazy

[Jim Young 2,356]

According to AP it's a mess - https://www.apnews.com/313575772ac14fc6a3b7d6edf960291d

 

Edited December 20, 2018 by Jim Young
Changed link from Daily Mail to AP so members will read the article....

[Ray Proudfoot 8,931]

Jim,

You don't take the DM too seriously. Everything's a mess according to them. I trust your attention wasn't drawn to the clickbait on the right.

Edited December 20, 2018 by Jim Young
Removed quote as I edited the OP.