Drone nearly hits plane from Japan landing in New Zealand

Anyone flying anything in the flight path of a commercial aircraft should be arrested. I don't think that this should be just limited to drones, but even kites, hot-air balloons, etc. All would pose varying levels of threat to a landing aircraft.

That said, I wonder why, when RC aircraft have been around for many years that we're seeing more concerns raised over drones. W hat's the difference between the old style Remote control aircraft, and a modern day off-the-shelf drone ?

I found this, but it doesn't really answer that question.

https://www.dronesetc.com/blogs/news/21481409-what-is-the-difference-between-a-drone-and-an-rc-plane-or-helicopter

Okay. Until then it's conjecture.

That's not how science works.

I'm sorry, but those claiming that a drone could down an airliner are indulging in pure hyperbole.

If you think that's a fact, you shouldn't be sorry. However, you should be more careful with your words given that the term "drone" encompasses all UAVs, and Predators can bring down an airliner.

Bird Strike takes out fighter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN_Zl64OQEw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJH6fhOLlgg

“In my flying career I have experienced 10 bird strikes, none of which caused any significant damage. On half the occasions, in fact, due to the small size of the birds, I was not aware that I had hit one until inspecting the aircraft after landing.”

Here are 10 birds birds that won't do any jail time. The fans on those jets are made of the hardest materials. I doubt cheap Chinese plastic could do any serious damage unless the "drones" are flying at 36000 feet and take out all the engines.

Google 'Bird strikes plane' and come back tell me you still believe this.

Drones can cause damage to aircraft.

Birds being sucked into the Engine of US Air brought it to a water landing in the Hudson river.

Birdstrikes have cause engine fires/flameouts etc.

Those are flesh and bone animals.

Look at this video of what a BIRD getting sucked into a 757's engine can do:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1jZvlFmqQU

Now we have drones with plastic and metal parts, batteries, engines etc

A drone flying around a crowded airport is just asking for trouble.

“In my flying career I have experienced 10 bird strikes, none of which caused any significant damage. On half the occasions, in fact, due to the small size of the birds, I was not aware that I had hit one until inspecting the aircraft after landing.”

Here are 10 birds birds that won't do any jail time. The fans on those jets are made of the hardest materials. I doubt cheap Chinese plastic could do any serious damage unless the "drones" are flying at 36000 feet and take out all the engines.

Stupidity? "Criminal" is more like it.

I'm sorry, but those claiming that a drone could down an airliner are indulging in pure hyperbole.

A single bird can bring down an aircraft and you think a flying hunk of plastic, wires and batteries would not be able to? I guess you've never seen something get sucked through a jet engine before.

I also find it funny that recently people were complaining about the US demanding Japan ban drones from airspace around US airbases, but now everybody is 'oh my god, why hasn't something been done about this?'

Nowadays planes were increased a lot in numbers to find bird strikes and now drones!? I have to tell my mother-in-law not to wear her large hat at the airport...

Idiots worldwide seem to be ignoring the necessity devising restricting laws on drones. Which is a universal methodology of the humanity masses - wait for the tragedy before taking any action to prevent it.

NZ seems to regularly have these issues with people pointing laser pointers at aircraft. No country is without its share of idiots unfortunately. I'm sure there'll be more of these incidents with drones in NZ too.

You obviously didn't read the link, from the Smithsonian. They were talking about regular old drones. There are plenty of other experienced pilots as well who have the same concerns. And then there are the pilots in the story above. At the very least, drones could cause extensive damage to the plane. At worst, they could indeed bring one down.

Just one of many sources https://www.airspacemag.com/articles/can-tiny-drone-take-down-airliner-180960896/

I'm sorry, but those claiming that a drone could down an airliner are indulging in pure hyperbole.

Seems a lot of professionals disagree with you. And that is regarding unarmed drones. A drone equipped with explosives is another story entirely.

Anyone responsible for this should be charged with attempted manslaughter.

What is the fascination of flying drones near an airport?

So you're saying that it's not possible to attach a bomb to a drone and detonate it when it is close enough to the drone? It's very well possible to bring down a commuter plane by drone, hope we will never see it happen some day

Perhaps stupidity. But any psychopath or terrorist might find this an easy way to down an airplane full of people. Flying a drone around an airport this way should be an imprisonable offense.