Drone Sightings, Near Misses And The FAA

Patrick Egan

Since the FAA has publically stated that there is a “dramatic rise” in “drone sightings and near misses” should the NTSB be concerned that there is a burgeoning safety issue? Therefore, may we suggest that starting now, all “drone sightings” reported by air carrier crews will be fully investigated, including immediately quarantining the airplane’s CVR and FDR for examination, a full download of ATC radar and voice recordings, and full interviews of the flight crew and air traffic controllers by NTSB investigators in order to best identify the “perpetrators”.

Huerta told ABC News on November 30^th –

“The thing that I am most concerned about is doing everything we can to avoid conflicts between aircraft – whether they’re drones or commercial airliners,”

If this is an issue of such high concern to the FAA Administrator, why isn’t the NTSB being asked for assistance? Why hasn’t it already been done? Why isn’t the FAA doing this? Why aren’t the airlines? The why not’s only raise more questions about the FAA’s mandate and current leadership?

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Patrick Egan

Editor in Field, sUAS News Americas Desk | Patrick Egan is the editor of the Americas Desk at sUAS News and host and Executive Producer of the sUAS News Podcast Series, Drone TV and the Small Unmanned Systems Business Exposition. Experience in the field includes assignments with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Battle Lab investigating solutions on future warfare research projects. Instructor for LTA (Lighter Than Air) ISR systems deployment teams for an OSD, U.S. Special Operations Command, Special Surveillance Project. Built and operated commercial RPA prior to 2007 FAA policy clarification. On the airspace integration side, he serves as director of special programs for the RCAPA (Remote Control Aerial Photography Association).