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After Drone Hits Plane in Canada, New Fears About Air Safety After Drone Hits Plane in Canada, New Fears About Air Safety
(about 1 hour later)
A drone crashed into a passenger plane last week in Canada, renewing safety concerns about unmanned aircraft and raising questions about how best to enforce regulations now that drones are becoming more and more commonplace.A drone crashed into a passenger plane last week in Canada, renewing safety concerns about unmanned aircraft and raising questions about how best to enforce regulations now that drones are becoming more and more commonplace.
The drone hit a plane carrying six passengers and two crew members en route to an airport in Quebec on Thursday.The drone hit a plane carrying six passengers and two crew members en route to an airport in Quebec on Thursday.
“This should not have happened,” Canada’s minister of transport, Marc Garneau, said at a news conference on Sunday. “That drone should not have been there.”“This should not have happened,” Canada’s minister of transport, Marc Garneau, said at a news conference on Sunday. “That drone should not have been there.”
Nobody was hurt, but the incident could have caused “catastrophic” damage had it hit an engine or incapacitated the pilot, Mr. Garneau said.Nobody was hurt, but the incident could have caused “catastrophic” damage had it hit an engine or incapacitated the pilot, Mr. Garneau said.
Researchers at Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering demonstrated in 2015 that an eight-pound quadcopter drone could rip apart a nine-foot-diameter engine in less than 1/200th of a second.Researchers at Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering demonstrated in 2015 that an eight-pound quadcopter drone could rip apart a nine-foot-diameter engine in less than 1/200th of a second.
The Canada plane, a Beech King Air A100 operated by SkyJet M.G., was flying from the Quebec’s Rouyn-Noranda Airport to the Jean Lesage International Airport in Quebec City, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada reported. The crew noticed the drone near the left wing as the plane approached the runway, then the drone struck the plane — an inspection revealed scratches on the wing. The crew landed the plane safely, the Transportation Safety Board said.The Canada plane, a Beech King Air A100 operated by SkyJet M.G., was flying from the Quebec’s Rouyn-Noranda Airport to the Jean Lesage International Airport in Quebec City, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada reported. The crew noticed the drone near the left wing as the plane approached the runway, then the drone struck the plane — an inspection revealed scratches on the wing. The crew landed the plane safely, the Transportation Safety Board said.
The drone has not yet been located, and no suspects have been identified, said Melissa Cliche, a spokeswoman for the Quebec City police, which is investigating the incident. The drone has not yet been located, and no suspects have been identified, said Melissa Cliche, a spokeswoman for the Quebec City police department, which is investigating the incident.
The drone was flying at an altitude of 1,500 feet, five times as high as what is permitted in Canada. Regulations prohibit recreational drone operators from flying their drones within 5.5 km (about 3.4 miles) of an airport.The drone was flying at an altitude of 1,500 feet, five times as high as what is permitted in Canada. Regulations prohibit recreational drone operators from flying their drones within 5.5 km (about 3.4 miles) of an airport.
“Anyone who violates the regulations could be subject to fines of up to $25,000 and/or prison,” said Mr. Garneau, who introduced new drone rules earlier this year.“Anyone who violates the regulations could be subject to fines of up to $25,000 and/or prison,” said Mr. Garneau, who introduced new drone rules earlier this year.
Although the authorities say this is the first time a drone has hit a commercial aircraft in Canada, it’s certainly not the first time a drone has come dangerously close to a plane.Although the authorities say this is the first time a drone has hit a commercial aircraft in Canada, it’s certainly not the first time a drone has come dangerously close to a plane.
“On a weekly, almost daily basis, pilots are filing reports on drone sightings,” Greg McConnell, chairman of the Canadian Federal Pilots Association said in a phone interview. “From my perspective, this was bound to happen.”“On a weekly, almost daily basis, pilots are filing reports on drone sightings,” Greg McConnell, chairman of the Canadian Federal Pilots Association said in a phone interview. “From my perspective, this was bound to happen.”
This year alone, 1,596 drone incidents were reported to Transport Canada, the federal department responsible for transportation policies. “Of these, 131 are deemed to have been of aviation safety concern,” Mr. Garneau said.This year alone, 1,596 drone incidents were reported to Transport Canada, the federal department responsible for transportation policies. “Of these, 131 are deemed to have been of aviation safety concern,” Mr. Garneau said.
In June of last year, a pilot attempting to land at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport said a drone came within about 82 feet of the plane. Investigators were especially concerned because it didn’t appear to be “your average hobby drone,” CBC News reported.In June of last year, a pilot attempting to land at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport said a drone came within about 82 feet of the plane. Investigators were especially concerned because it didn’t appear to be “your average hobby drone,” CBC News reported.
In April, as an Air Canada Jazz flight was landing at Trudeau Airport, a drone came so close the pilot was able to identify it as a quadcopter.In April, as an Air Canada Jazz flight was landing at Trudeau Airport, a drone came so close the pilot was able to identify it as a quadcopter.
That same month, the crew aboard an Air Canada Express flight reported that a drone flew by their left wing as they approached Ottawa.That same month, the crew aboard an Air Canada Express flight reported that a drone flew by their left wing as they approached Ottawa.
“People think they’re toys, but they’re not toys,” Mr. McConnell said.“People think they’re toys, but they’re not toys,” Mr. McConnell said.
Local police were called to the scene in each instance, but finding the drone and its owner proved no easy task, which makes enforcing the drone regulations all the more difficult. The local police were called to the scene in each instance, but finding the drone and its owner proved no easy task, which makes enforcing the drone regulations all the more difficult.
It’s unclear “how law enforcement is going to be given the resources they need to make sure that that drone that you buy at the big-box store today doesn’t cause an accident tomorrow,” the CTV News technology analyst Carmi Levy said on a news broadcast. “Right now it relies on citizens seeing them in the sky and reporting them.”It’s unclear “how law enforcement is going to be given the resources they need to make sure that that drone that you buy at the big-box store today doesn’t cause an accident tomorrow,” the CTV News technology analyst Carmi Levy said on a news broadcast. “Right now it relies on citizens seeing them in the sky and reporting them.”