Drones....

[mushroom25]

the subject of drones has been aired before in this forum, with the majority consensus being that the authorities should stop being drama queens, grow some and let drone flyers get on with managing their own affairs.

so would it be fair to say that AB consider Gatwick Airport to have "over reacted" last night?
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-46623754

[spathiphyllum]

I think the people responsible should be fined, potentially prosecuted. When buying a drone it comes with a little law guide. Forbidden air zones are strict.

[spathiphyllum]

And no, i don't think they over reacted. If worst came to worst and say it was a terrorist attack, then lives may have been saved.

[dannyk13]

No,safety must come first. A spokesman from Gatwick said he thought that the drone was there in a deliberate attempt to disrupt flights.It was still there at 9am.Why don't they get the RAF to shoot it down?

[Old_Geezer]

No idea if it is any worse than a bird strike, but it is something to try to control. I'd have thought it was an over-reaction. Would hope they had to tech to pinpoint unexpected flying objects nearby and get the police to sort things out quickly.

Drones are a tool, and are are ok or not as the person controlling it. Not much different to model aircraft flying; the issue is with the irresponsible members of the public.

Perhaps all they need is a warden with an air-gun on site ?

[Prudie]

Those responsible should be imprisoned. My heart goes out to all those affected at Gatwick, particularly at this time of year when people are trying to travel for Christmas. Downright mean.

[MallyJ]

I think that Gatwick are correct in responding this way...if they don't and there is an incident in which people are injured or planes damaged then people would be quick to rage at the airport...surely the only people to be held accountable are those that send drones into Gatwick's air space..... I do wonder why people just carry on doing what they want without consideration for others.

[Prudie]

As I heard it they don't want to just shoot them down as they need to find those controlling them.

[spathiphyllum]

Issue is the guy flying it could be sat in the actual airport but controlling it via a VPN so its almost untrackable.

[SlackAlice]

Possible answer here

[Guilbert53]

>with the majority consensus being that the authorities should stop being drama queens

I do not think it is the majority at all, just a small mindless minority.

>>>let drone flyers get on with managing their own affairs.

What like endangering planes at airports and putting the lives of hundreds of people in the plane at risk.

Also disrupting the travel plans of thousands of people.

I hope when the people are caught (if they are) they get a year in prison.

Thoughtless idiots.

[Khandro]

Surely the propellers would damage the bird. I would think a programmed second drone which intercepts the intruder drone and then self destructs might be a possibility.

[bednobs]

I don't know what forum you are reading but posts on here about drones seem to be against them mushroom

[vulcan42]

There are a number of devices to remove drones, all airports should carry at least one.

[ummmm]

We have a drone at work and the boss had to go on a training course for it.

It's not a toy.

[woofgang]

I think they are different from model aircraft in some important respects. They are cheaper to buy and easier to fly, making them much more accessible to anybody who wants one. They also hover which model aircraft don't unless they are model helicopters. I agree as a tool they have their uses. I don't have a problem with hobbyists having and using them but I don't want them over my property or being flown so as to cause a danger.

[ummmm]

I don't understand what's interesting about them.

[EDDIE51]

Being discussed on TV news now. A pilot says ''It was a serious hazard''

[Prudie]

Bird strikes can be fatally dangerous - that's what brought down the plane in the Hudson river (of Sully fame)

[vulcan42]

They can be extremely useful, in the right hands. Firemen use them to check for hot spots on a building fire, Police are using them to search for missing people and they have been used to drop life rafts to those in trouble at sea. Unfortunately there are always idiots who use new devices for all the wrong reasons.

[ToraToraTora]

"the subject of drones has been aired before in this forum, with the majority consensus being that the authorities should stop being drama queens, grow some and let drone flyers get on with managing their own affairs." - don't count me in that, I hate the *&^%ing things and anyone flying one near an airport should be jailed. What's to stop a terrorist strapping C4 to one and blowing up a plane? They should are the airports some sort of shooting down mechanism.