A thought in progress

I wonder if there has ever been a similar situation that compares to the current multi-rotor vs commercial aircraft perceived situation.

A sub $1000 toy gadget readily available from a store shelf that could collide with a commercial aircraft taking off or landing.

This is new and significant because Joe-Publics flying toy can potentially now unintentionally be run into by a large aircraft.

“Unintentionally” because it’s unlikely Joe-Public would be planning a collision, but rather be trying to get spectacular photos or video and stupidly being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“run into” because a model aircraft in front of a large aircraft is a bit like a 1/8 scale RC car in front of an 18-wheeler on the open road.

In my opinion it’s unlikely a toy multi-rotor would bring down a large aircraft, but it would do some very expensive damage and scare the crap out of a anyone involved. I don’t claim to be a aviation engineering safety expert, but common sense suggests that if something the size of a large seagull and weighting several Kg can bring down a manned aircraft, the industry has much bigger problems, and you’d have to be mad to fly.

Significant damage would be a dent or hole, a broken window or a failed engine. Probably similar to a decent bird strike; maybe less damage than a multi-bird strike). I would imagine that considering the relatively small frontal area of a manned aircraft, the chances of a collision are quite small.

Still, that doesn’t make it OK and still scares the crap out of people.

So what can be done?

Keeping RC models out of the way of manned aircraft is the obvious answer. But how?

Some are proposing strict rules and licensing, but is this realistic? Considering that multi-rotors are here to stay and will only become cheaper, easier to fly, easier to get, more reliable and more popular.

I’ve heard it said that bird strike cannot be compared to drone strike as birds are smart and can get out of the way. There may be some truth to this, but there are many more birds than drones and there must be some stupid birds, just as there are some stupid drone pilots. The vast majority of drone will stay clear of air fields unlike birds that flock to the waste outfall at the end of the runway.

I suspect that to some extent people are loosing perspective and falling back on the assumption that regulation overcomes stupidity. It’s difficult to tell because the media is stirring things up and truth and accuracy are lost.

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