Honestly, I haven’t been too concerned about encountering drones while flying, especially compared to other aircraft. However, I recently had a close call in Florida when a Cherokee unexpectedly descended into the traffic pattern without any communication, which was a bit nerve-wracking. Then, a hangar neighbor shared her experience of nearly hitting a drone while landing in New Jersey, which got me thinking. I decided to chat with Christian Ramsey from uAvionix to get some insights. You might recognize uAvionix for their popular sky/tailBeacon ADS-B systems and AV-30/20-series flight displays. Before diving into general aviation avionics, they were leaders in UAV electronics, and their current UAV products are top-notch in the unmanned aircraft market.
I asked Ramsey about the likelihood of a drone getting caught in a propeller during a typical GA flight. He acknowledged that while the chances are relatively low, the risk is growing, especially at lower altitudes. Drones aren’t disappearing anytime soon, and most of them flying low are hobby drones, which pose the highest risk. Helicopters, agricultural operations, and even seaplanes face significant challenges in avoiding drones due to limited reaction time. With around 500,000 licensed Part 107 remote pilots in the U.S., there’s a lot of airspace sharing going on. Although these pilots learn about airspace awareness and avoiding other aircraft, the responsibility to avoid collisions primarily falls on the UAS operators, not manned aircraft pilots. The tricky part is that many drones lack the technology to detect aircraft effectively. Spotting a small drone from a cockpit is nearly impossible, and most drones don’t have ADS-B Out systems due to FAA regulations. However, many drones are equipped with ADS-B In receivers, thanks to uAvionix, allowing them to detect potential threats from a distance.
As drone operations expand beyond the line of sight, the issue might worsen. But with advancements in technology and awareness, there’s hope for safer skies. #AviationSafety #DroneAwareness #uAvionix
Originally reported by AVweb Read More
