AP Exclusive: Drone sightings up dramatically

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-EXCITE

By JOAN LOWY

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is getting near-daily reports — and sometimes two or three a day — of drones flying near airplanes and helicopters or close to airports without permission, federal and industry officials tell The Associated Press. It's a sharp increase from just two years ago when such reports were still unusual.

Many of the reports are filed with the Federal Aviation Administration by airline pilots. But other pilots, airport officials and local authorities often file reports as well, said the officials, who agreed to discuss the matter only on the condition that they not be named because they weren't authorized to speak publicly. Michael Toscano, president of a drone industry trade group, said FAA officials also have verified the increase to him.

While many of the reports are unconfirmed, raising the possibility that pilots may have mistaken a bird or another plane in the distance for a drone, the officials said other reports appear to be credible.

The FAA tightly restricts the use of drones, which could cause a crash if one collided with a plane or was sucked into an engine. Small drones usually aren't visible on radar to air traffic controllers, particularly if they're made of plastic or other composites.

FULL story at link.



FILE - In this March 12, 2014 file photo, a drone flown by Brian Wilson lands after flying over the scene of an explosion that leveled two apartment buildings in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York. The government is receiving reports nearly every day _ and sometimes two or three times a day _ of drones flying near airplanes and helicopters or close to airports without permission, a sharp increase from just two years ago when such reports were still unusual, federal and industry officials familiar with the reports told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141112/us--drone_sightings-624cac8eb4.html

[L0oniX]

1. ISIS is droning the US.

[hunter]

2. The little green men in their flying saucers are very pleased.

"Weather Balloons" and "Swamp Gas" were pretty lame cover stories.

"Just a drone" is much more believable.

[upaloopa]

3. I was at a hobby store in San Diego this weekend

that sells drones of various sizes.
A young girl and her dad were buying one.
You can make videos with them.
It is a hobby thing I guess. I saw someone using one in Hawaii this past July when I was on vacation.

[PSPS]

7. Here's a video taken with a quadcopter

[Javaman]

4. I have the same experience when I watch C-SPAN. nt

[djean111]

5. Eventually, some hobbyists's cute little intrusive toy may bring down an airplane.

And we will go to Defcon 1.

[EEO]

6. I don't care for them.

[Historic NY]

8. Perhaps its time to shoot them down like the geese...

and other birds that plague airports. Its obvious nothing else seems to be working. Perhaps radio signal jamming might work

[RufusTFirefly]

9. Gee. Never saw this coming...

I'm sure it will work out really, really well though.

[msanthrope]

10. The matrix of drones over the NYC area is easily visible to the naked eye. nt

[Demeter]

11. It's a brave new world

As the government sows, so shall it reap.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. I wish they would stop calling every remote-controlled device in existence, a "drone".