Risks of collisions between drones and planes have been highlighted in a recent study conducted by researchers from Florida’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Unmanned Robotic Systems Analysis (URSA).

Breaking new ground, this study utilized innovative technology to objectively count close calls instead of just pilot sightings.

During a three-year span, the researchers kept a close watch on Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, one of the busiest hubs in the world. Within this period, they closely examined over 1.8 million flights by manned aircraft and about 460,000 flights by small, uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS).

Their keen observation led them to identify 24 near-midair collisions (NMACs) between sUAS and airplanes, occurring primarily near runway approach or departure zones.

The researchers suggested a solution for averting such near-misses: extend the drone exclusion zone around high-risk runways from approximately one mile to 3.5 miles.

One of the study’s…

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Source: dronexl.co