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Menace-free use of drones. Is it even possible?

Johannesburg - Civil aviation authorities must make sure that the radio spectrum used to control drones does not interfere with air traffic control systems.

The menace of unauthorised drones has now made its appearance at the Dubai International Airport - among the top busiest airports in the world (Stray drones at Dubai airport delay flights; KT, Feb. 16). Now that they have cameras and a menacing name, drones are set to be very popular internationally. The United States Federal Aviation Administration predicts there will be thousands of civilian cargo drones in US airspace by 2022.The threat of drones making sudden appearances in restricted aviation zones poses a lethal and deadly threat to commercial aviation. The grim possibility of drones being flown near manned-aircraft must be urgently addressed before we witness a major disaster.

The drone expansion from military to commercial and in recent years to civilian usage is becoming a real and growing threat to the safety of commercial aviation as stated by IATA at the Singapore Air Show in 2016. A British Airways flight from Geneva has had a near miss with 137 passengers and crew on board. The drone actually struck the A-320 before landing. The use of drones is widening. In 2016, a drone was recorded delivering illegal drugs to inmates at Wandsworth prison in London. Last year, a drone narrowly missed a Boeing 737 after it took off from Stansted Airport in the UK.

Civil aviation authorities must make sure that the radio spectrum used to control drones does not interfere with air traffic control systems. Incidents in the US reveal drones hindering emergency services efforts in fighting fires.

Reports from FAA reveal the following: From August 22, 2015 to January 31, 2016, 600 drones flew to close for comfort to airports and airborne planes. From November 13, 2014 to August 20, 2016, there were 746 similar drone incidents. From December 2013 to September 2016, there were 28 incidents involving pilots taking evasive action to avoid drones while flying.

The civil aviation administration in Dubai and around the world must take the threats of drones and powerful laser pointers seriously to avoid aviation tragedies.

- Farouk Araie, Johannesburg, South Africa