A Blog by Jonathan Low

 

Apr 18, 2016

Drone Hits British Airways Flight On Final Approach To London's Heathrow Airport

Stay calm and try to figure out where your drone is. JL

The Telegraph reports:

The number of near misses involving aircraft and drones has quadrupled in the past year. There is currently a lot of scenario modelling happening to look in more detail at the severity of these impacts. There (is) a large amount of data on the effects of bird strikes on planes, but specific drone research was needed because "birds don't have a big lump of lithium battery in them".
olice were last night investigating after a drone crashed into a British Airways jet over Heathrow in what is believed to be the first case of its kind.
The pilot of the BA727 flight from Geneva, carrying 132 passengers and five crew members, reported to police that the front of the aircraft had been struck by the unmanned object shortly before it landed at lunchtime on Sunday.Although the aircraft landed intact and was later cleared for its next flight, it has renewed calls for more to be done to curb drone use amid a quadrupling of near-misses involving drones and aircraft in the UK in recent months.
Airline pilots want tests to be carried out to discover what would happen if a drone hit a passenger jet. Initial tests could cost around £250,000.
Steve Landells, flight safety specialist for the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), said: "Frankly it was only a matter of time before we had a drone strike given the huge numbers being flown around by amateurs who don't understand the risks and the rules.
"It appears that no serious damage was done on this occasion, but what is clear is that while most drones are flown safely, sensibly and within the limits of the law, much more education of drone users and enforcement of the rules is needed to ensure our skies remain safe from this threat."
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said he believed it was the first case of its kind in the UK.
He added: "Drone users have to understand that when taking to the skies they are potentially flying close to one of the busiest areas of airspace in the world - a complex system that brings together all manner of aircraft including passenger aeroplanes, military jets, helicopters, gliders and light aircraft."

He said the rules were that drones should not be flown near airports and that drone users should never lose sight of their drone – that is, they should not fly them above 400ft.
CAA regulations also prohibit unmanned aircraft from flying within 50m (164ft) of any vessel, vehicle or structure that is not in the control of the person in charge of the aircraft.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "A pilot on an inbound flight into Heathrow Airport from Geneva reported to police that he believed a drone had struck the aircraft.
"It transpired that an object, believed to be a drone, had struck the front of the aircraft. No arrests have been made and inquiries continue. Aviation police based at Heathrow investigate."
The aircraft has been cleared for its next flight 
The aircraft has been cleared for its next flight  Credit: Rex 
A British Airways spokesman said: "Our aircraft landed safely, was fully examined by our engineers and it was cleared to operate its next flight.
"Safety and security are always our first priority and we will give the police every assistance with their investigation."
Philippa Oldham, head of transport and manufacturing at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: "Is too early to say why this happened.
"Thankfully no harm came to the aircraft or its occupants this time but there will need to be a full investigation into who was responsible for this incident with a plan to prevent this happening in the future.
"The CAA have strict guidelines about operation of these drones but as witnessed today not everyone is adhering to these rules.
"There is currently a lot of scenario modelling happening to look in more detail at the severity of these impacts. The amount of damage caused depends on factors such as the size, direction of travel and speed of the drone, and the location of the collision.
"The impact potentially could be anything from nothing (as fortunately witnessed by today's incident) to a destruction of an engine."
Last month the Telegraph reported that the number of near misses involving aircraft and drones has quadrupled in the past year.
According to statistics released by the air regulator amid concerns about the safety of air space, some 23 near misses between aircraft and drones between April and October last year were investigated by the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) according to its latest reports, including 12 given an A rating - meaning there was "a serious risk of collision".
This compared to 12 incidents between July 2014 and July 2015, seven of which were recorded as near misses between drones and piloted craft.
In one incident a drone passed within 25m (82ft) of a Boeing 777 near London Heathrow Airport.
A plane takes off at Heathrow Airport
A plane takes off at Heathrow, the busiest airport in the United Kingdom Credit: PA
The incident at Heathrow was one of the 12 that were given an "A" rating by the independent board, meaning there was "a serious risk of collision". It is the most serious risk rating out of five.
Other incidents given the most serious rating include a drone coming within 20m (66ft) of an Embraer 170 jet on its approach to London City Airport above the Houses of Parliament on September 13.
On the same day, a Boeing 737 had a near miss with a drone shortly after take-off from Stansted Airport in Essex.
Balpa wants the Department for Transport and the CAA to back research into the possible consequences of a collision with a passenger jet.
Mr Landells, a former RAF and British Airways pilot, has warned that a drone hitting an airliner could result in an uncontrolled engine failure or a smashed cockpit windscreen.
He said there was a large amount of data on the effects of bird strikes on planes, but he said specific drone research was needed because "birds don't have a big lump of lithium battery in them".

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