The serious and extended closure of Gatwick Airport because of
the suspected deliberate use of a drone infringing the airport
airspace, has brought to a head the warnings of many in the
industry.
This latest event is a stark reminder of the ease with which
drones can currently be used to cause massive disruption at a
global level. This is a problem for today, not something to be
passed off into the future.
Here are some key observations arising from this latest
event:
- There have been renewed calls in the
UK and elsewhere for stricter controls on drone operations,
including widening airspace exclusion zones around airports,
increasing penalties for illegal use, and introducing mandatory
registration for operators. While they are to be encouraged and
will certainly act as a deterrent, one queries whether such
measures would prevent an event like this where the conduct is
premeditated. Indeed, the rate of near misses between drones and
commercial aircraft has
