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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/11/drone-and-plane-in-near-miss-close-to-newquay-airport
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| Drone and plane in 'near miss' close to Newquay airport | |
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| Police are investigating reports of a near-miss between a drone and a passenger plane in Cornwall. | Police are investigating reports of a near-miss between a drone and a passenger plane in Cornwall. |
| The incident took place shortly before 3pm on Wednesday as the Flybe flight with 62 people onboard was going in to land at Newquay airport. | |
| Insp Dave Meredith said: “The aircraft was travelling at about 900ft and was approximately 2 miles from the airport, just south of St Columb Major, when it reported a near miss with a drone which flew alongside the aircraft. | |
| “Police immediately conducted a search of the area but neither the drone nor its operator could be located. This is an incredibly concerning incident; the close proximity of the drone to the passenger aircraft shows a complete disregard by the operator for public safety and we are appealing to the public for information to help us track down this reckless drone operator. | “Police immediately conducted a search of the area but neither the drone nor its operator could be located. This is an incredibly concerning incident; the close proximity of the drone to the passenger aircraft shows a complete disregard by the operator for public safety and we are appealing to the public for information to help us track down this reckless drone operator. |
| “We view such incidents very seriously and the forces’ specialist drone unit will be leading on the investigating into this incident.” | “We view such incidents very seriously and the forces’ specialist drone unit will be leading on the investigating into this incident.” |
| An airport spokeswoman said there was “no danger of collision” but that air traffic control (ATC) had contacted police “as the drone should not have been flown in that area without ATC clearance and posed a potential danger to incoming flights.” | |
| Stephen Landells, a flight safety specialist with the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), said flying a drone close to commercial aircraft was “extremely dangerous”. | Stephen Landells, a flight safety specialist with the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), said flying a drone close to commercial aircraft was “extremely dangerous”. |
| “Anybody who does it is risking people’s lives, as well as a prison sentence,” said Landells. “The Civil Aviation Authority is due to launch an education programme for amateur drone users which we fully support and we hope will get the message across to the casual user of the dangers of flying irresponsibly. | “Anybody who does it is risking people’s lives, as well as a prison sentence,” said Landells. “The Civil Aviation Authority is due to launch an education programme for amateur drone users which we fully support and we hope will get the message across to the casual user of the dangers of flying irresponsibly. |
| “Drones flown commercially by trained professionals tend not to be the problem and we work closely with professional drone operators who, like us, want to ensure that drones and manned aircraft can both fly safely in our airspace.” | “Drones flown commercially by trained professionals tend not to be the problem and we work closely with professional drone operators who, like us, want to ensure that drones and manned aircraft can both fly safely in our airspace.” |
| Balpa has called for a register of drone users and for he Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority to back research into the possible consequences of a collision. | |
| There has never been a confirmed collision between a drone and an aeroplane in the UK but concerns among pilots have been mounting after a number of near misses. | |
| There were 23 near misses between aircraft and drones between 11 April and 4 October last year, according to the UK Airprox Board, with 12 of those given an A rating – meaning there was a serious risk of collision. | |
| In April, police were called after a British Airways pilot reported that his plane had been struck by a drone as it approached Heathrow airport, but it was later determined that the object was not an unmanned aircraft. The plane landed safely. | In April, police were called after a British Airways pilot reported that his plane had been struck by a drone as it approached Heathrow airport, but it was later determined that the object was not an unmanned aircraft. The plane landed safely. |
| Flying a drone close to a plane risks a charge of endangering the safety of an aircraft, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. | Flying a drone close to a plane risks a charge of endangering the safety of an aircraft, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. |
| Under the Air Navigation Order 2009, a person must not fly an unmanned aircraft “within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft” without the permission of the Civil Aviation Authority. | Under the Air Navigation Order 2009, a person must not fly an unmanned aircraft “within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft” without the permission of the Civil Aviation Authority. |