This is very serious, London's airport has already been closed twice due to rogue drones flying around the area. It's either a prank, or test runs for possible terrorist attacks.

Either way, it's already caused millions in losses. And there's a real risk of copycats spawning worldwide, causing a major epidemic of these events.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-46654797

 

I thought technology already existed to knock these things out of the sky? Why isn't it being used?

We certainly are headed to scary times with the proliferation of cheap drones and now AI advancing in leaps and bounds. Some of this new tech can be wonderful. Even life saving for some but I wonder if we would be better without it.

 

 

This is very serious, London's airport has already been closed twice due to rogue drones flying around the area.

Air space around all US airports is restricted.

For private property, there's a website that allows you to declare your property a drone no-fly zone.

 

hi,
On the UK TV today it was stated that it will cost millions to develop anti-drone technology.

Why don't they buy a few low cost drones and train some members of the airport staff to fly them.
When an illegal drone is detected, the airport staff fly their drone on a Kamikaze mission and cause a mid air collision with the illegal drone.
That is a low cost quick solution.

The police would then have debris which may yield clues leading them to the illegal flyer.
E

 

Air space around all US airports is restricted.

I would think that the airspace around most airports in the world are restricted too. That and $4.15 will get you a cup of coffee.

 

Few days ago, we had the second case in few months of a passenger plane colliding with a drone, in the middle of the landing procedure.

 

Wouldn't a drone show up on airport radar? It's not an complete solution but detecting the stupid thing would go a long way towards mitigating the risk.

 

Wouldn't a drone show up on airport radar? It's not an complete solution but detecting the stupid thing would go a long way towards mitigating the risk.

WAY too small.

 

I would think that the airspace around most airports in the world are restricted too.

Gatwick airspace has a 1km restriction for drones. There's talk about increasing that.
The authorities apparently already have directional jammers for drone control frequencies, and have drone-deployed 'fishing nets' to capture rogue drones.

 

Gatwick airspace has a 1km restriction for drones. There's talk about increasing that.
/QUOTE]

Again that and $4.15 (or in this case 3.29 pounds sterling) will get you a cup of coffee. Make the limit 10 miles. Isn't going to change a thing. You need to find the people doing this and severely punish them including forcing them to pay full restitution to everyone involved. Even if payment takes the rest of their life.

 

Gatwick airspace has a 1km restriction for drones. There's talk about increasing that.
The authorities apparently already have directional jammers for drone control frequencies, and have drone-deployed 'fishing nets' to capture rogue drones.

A jammer won't work on a drone with a preprogrammed flight path unless you can disrupt GPS reception.

 

Yeah but there are many simple ways to cause chaos in a major city. Doesn’t cost much at all. For example: drop a few bags of flour on the bridge before the morning commute; rent a couple cars and crash them together on a busy road; throw some beach balls onto the freeway in the morning.

I think the difference is that we used to be well behaved and actually cared. In this wirld them, who knows?

 

I don't get the flour thing.

 

I don't get the flour thing.

Fake BIO-agents with a dead animal.

 

WAY too small.

Perhaps. But I used to do a lot of model rocket flying. We flew out of the "Bong Recreation area" in SE Wisconsin. When we were flying, there was always a NOTAM issued - and both Chicago Center and Milwaukee approach told us that they could sometimes see the rockets on their radar.

 

From personal experience, circa 1972, it is really difficult to tell where something is from at night or with low light. We (me and my instructor) were on approach to BAL -- now BWI. He ( a National Guard instructor pilot) saw some flares. We didn't know whether they were just July 4th fireworks or something more serious. I do not blame a pilot who refuses to challenge any aberration they see on their landing approach.

 

Perhaps. But I used to do a lot of model rocket flying. We flew out of the "Bong Recreation area" in SE Wisconsin. When we were flying, there was always a NOTAM issued - and both Chicago Center and Milwaukee approach told us that they could sometimes see the rockets on their radar.

Only if you were flying large metal rockets. Model rockets are made of cardboard and balsa wood. Even it did reflect, it would look like a spec of sand.

 

Only if you were flying large metal rockets. Model rockets are made of cardboard and balsa wood. Even it did reflect, it would look like a spec of sand.

Not all are so constructed. They were visible on radar. It doesn't take much to cause serious damage at 150 knots.

 

Only if you were flying large metal rockets. Model rockets are made of cardboard and balsa wood. Even it did reflect, it would look like a spec of sand.

Large model rockets, nothing structural out of metal. May be some metal such as eye-bolts and engine mounting hardware. Some of them would have used a fiberglass body tube - a very few might have used a graphite composite. Can't say I saw any radar tracks, but that is what we were told. http://www.wooshrocketry.org/