Drone near-misses off US airports have skyrocketed, threatening passenger safety seriously. The number of near-misses involving commercial jets is increasing, despite federal prohibitions on drones within airport areas. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can’t manage the risk as rapidly advancing drone technology leaves it lagging behind regulation.
Drones are now hovering at hazardous heights, right into the flight paths of commercial airliners. Such incidents represent an even broader issue: lax enforcement, loose regulation, and growing drone ownership.
Near Collisions Are Becoming Common
In recent months, passenger planes have experienced several near misses with drones. In November, a drone passed just 300 feet from a plane landing at San Francisco airport. A month before that, pilots flying over Miami reported a close call at 4,000 feet. In August, a drone came close to colliding with a jet’s left wing after takeoff from Newark.
Each encounter is a near midair collision — a class with potentially disastrous consequences. Aviation specialists caution that these are not isolated occurrences.
Drone Threats Now Dominate the Data
A near-collision rate of nearly two-thirds at the busiest 30 US airports last year is highlighted by an Associated Press analysis. That’s a record high since 2020. Drones have comprised 51% of reported near misses over the past decade — 122 out of 240 instances.
These are figures from NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System, a voluntary database that pilots and aviation employees utilize.
Regulation Can’t Keep Up With Technology
Drone usage has taken off. The FAA estimates more than a million drones are now airborne over the US. As drones get less expensive and more powerful, users can easily navigate them into commercial airspace. Many fly drones without knowing the regulations. Others simply disregard them.
The FAA prohibits drone operation in the vicinity of airports without first obtaining permission. It also mandates transponders on drones weighing more than 250 grams. But it is a gigantic task to enforce them.
FAA Attempts to Reign in the Bedlam
The FAA has begun testing anti-drone technology. These involve jamming radio waves and shutting down drones using microwaves or lasers. Yet, these technologies are still under consideration.
Experts call for stricter regulations. Some propose speed camera-style systems to detect offenders based on transponder codes. Others call on the FAA to mandate mandatory GPS geofencing, which prevents drones from entering off-limits zones.
Manufacturers Remove Key Safety Features
DJI, the leading drone manufacturer globally, had for a long time incorporated geofencing into its drones. However, in January, the company discontinued the feature. Currently, pilots only receive an alert upon entry into forbidden areas.
DJI explained that it found dealing with a million geofencing override requests during the last year to be too daunting. None of the other drone manufacturers have geofencing, and no US law requires it.
Drones Already Caused Real Damage
In December, two men were arrested by police for operating a drone close to Boston’s Logan Airport. A month later, a drone had created a hole in a Super Scooper plane battling wildfires in California. The plane was grounded for repairs.
The transponder on the drone, as required by the FAA, assisted authorities in apprehending the 56-year-old pilot. He subsequently pleaded guilty to a federal offense.
Regulation Lag vs Tech Growth: The Bigger Concern
The FAA has a difficult fight ahead. Drone technology advances rapidly. But safety regulations and enforcement trail behind. Without required safety features such as geofencing, and with limited real-time tracking, drone abuse remains unchecked.
As drones enter more airspace, the threat to passengers, pilots, and first responders will only increase.
