Drones in the sky: How sightings could affect air travel
If you’ve looked up at the night sky recently and noticed mysterious flying objects, you’re hardly alone.
From New Jersey to Arizona and California (and dozens of places in between) the public has witnessed unusual flying objects, and often, it’s large clusters of them.
Social media platforms have been flooded the past few weeks with reels captured by locals of the mysterious flying objects, which are said to be drones. The flying objects have been spotted over everything from residential neighborhoods to restricted sites and critical infrastructure.
While you may be tempted to think it’s some sort of invasion not all that unlike Will Smith’s hit movie "Independence Day," it seems the Biden administration and other government organizations are not nearly as worried about the sightings.
White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters recently that the government has not identified "anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risks over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the Northeast."
"We assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircrafts, helicopters, and even stars that were mistakenly reported as drones," Kirby said.
The White House also issued a statement on the matter, explaining that extensive investigation has been conducted regarding the unmanned aircraft, otherwise known as UAS, and the determination was that there's no evidence of illegal activity or foreign involvement.
The FBI and DHS, meanwhile, issued a joint statement to underscore the fact that there is no need for alarm, stating that there is "no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus."
But what is the travel effect of these drones, if any? Do they interrupt air travel or cause any safety risks?
The drone activity has already caused one airport in the Northeast — New York’s Stewart International Airport, which is about 60 miles north of New York City — to close its runways for about an hour on a recent Friday night.
In that incident, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called for federal assistance in response to the drone sighting at the airport.
However, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey say "there were no impacts to flight operations during the closure."
With all of the social media buzz on the topic and the growing news headlines, TravelPulse reached out to aviation and drone industry experts to find out what, if any, effects the unidentified drones could have on air travel, as well as what safety precautions the public might take.
There are more than 1 million drones registered in the United States, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. That figure includes more than 403,000 commercial drones and more than 387,000 recreational drones.
"There are now more small drones owned and operated in the U.S. national airspace than commercial and general aviation aircraft," James McDanolds, program chair for the School of Uncrewed Technology at the Sonoran Desert Institute, told TravelPulse.
"Hobbyists, commercial organizations, and government organizations use them as tools to support different purposes and workflows. From flying for fun to using it to help increase crop yields, making last-mile package deliveries, and more," McDanolds continued.
The experts who spoke with TravelPulse say the drones that are currently being spotted nationwide, which typically include a variety of bright lights on them, likely fall into the recreational user category.
"Based on my expertise, I don’t believe these drones are part of any sophisticated surveillance operation — drones with bright lights and noticeable noise don’t fit that profile," aviation expert Ethan Levy, CEO of Tidal Jets, Inc, told TravelPulse.
"The more likely explanation is recreational misuse by hobbyists or unauthorized operations by commercial drone users," Levy continued. "That said, the frequency and scope of these reports are concerning and highlight ongoing challenges with drone monitoring, regulation, and enforcement."
Levy added that while there is no clear evidence pointing to a direct security threat, the incidents taking place coast to coast should not be taken lightly.
So what are the risks, if any, when it comes to air travel and drone clusters?
The most pressing concern would be unauthorized drones entering controlled airspace, which could pose a "serious safety risk to aviation," said Levy.
Aircraft, particularly during takeoff and landing, operate in tight, regulated airspace where even minor disruptions can have consequences, Levy said.
"A drone crossing into an active flight path may force pilots to take evasive action, delay landings, or perform go-rounds — creating operational delays and increasing the workload for both flight crews and air traffic control," Levy explained.
The good news is drone flights are not allowed within a certain distance of the takeoff and landing portions of airport runways, explained McDanolds. Drones are also prohibited from being within about one mile, or sometimes more, of airports.
If drones navigate into those restricted areas and are confirmed to have been sighted there, they can pose "a danger to the safe operation of airliners and result in runways being shut down and flights being delayed," McDanolds added.
The physical risks of drone impacts on airplanes can be equally concerning. Unlike birds, drones are made of dense, hard components — metal frames, lithium-ion batteries, and intricate electronics — that can inflict severe damage during a collision.
"A drone strike on a jet engine could cause catastrophic failure, while impacts on windshields or control surfaces could compromise an aircraft’s integrity," said Levy.
Levy and others stressed that such risks are very rare, but can be "exacerbated when drones are sighted in large numbers or ‘swarms,’ as managing multiple unpredictable objects in flight becomes a far greater challenge," said Levy.
There are numerous FAA rules pertaining to how drones can be flown and those rules vary based on the drone’s size, explained Dan Bubb, professor and aviation history at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV).
For drones under 55 pounds the rules include:
—Drone operators keeping the drone within their line of sight
—Giving way and not interfering with other aircraft
—Flying at or below FAA authorized altitudes in controlled airspace with prior authorization
—Flying at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace
However, the drone sightings across the country describe the flying objects as being as large as SUVs. Larger drones, those over 55 pounds, must adhere to additional rules including:
—The drone operator must pass a 60-question test (TRUST)
—The operator also must pass a TSA background check
—The operator may not fly the drone at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour
As long as these rules are observed, says Bubb, there should be no public safety risks with regard to commercial flights.
"Occasionally, some operators do not abide by the rules, which can create a problem for commercial aircraft," continued Bubb. "The FAA and law enforcement will investigate these incidents ... Also, pilots must remain vigilant during all phases of flight, so they are acutely aware of any other aircraft — including drones — in the area, and will take evasive action should it be necessary."
For passengers, it’s essential to understand that drone incursions, while concerning, are taken extremely seriously by regulatory authorities and the aviation industry.
Organizations like the FAA have strict protocols to respond to unauthorized drone activity, including grounding flights, rerouting aircraft, and launching immediate investigations.
"Airline safety protocols are designed to ensure that passenger safety remains the top priority, even in the face of new and emerging risks," said Levy.
However, the frequency of the recent spate of incidents highlights broader concerns, Levy said, including:
Regulation Enforcement: "While drone usage is regulated, unauthorized operations persist," explained Levy. "Strengthening enforcement mechanisms and penalties for violations is critical."
Public Education: "Many drone operators remain unaware of restricted airspace boundaries and the severe risks of flying near airports. Education campaigns must bridge this knowledge gap," Levy added.
Technological Solutions: Investments in drone detection, geofencing, and counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) technologies will be vital to safeguarding airspace from unauthorized incursions, concluded Levy.