Drone closes Gatwick airport
I see that a drone closed Gatwick airport meaning flights were cancelled and caused misery for 1000s of passengers. Seems to be happening more and more as the popularity of drones increases (and the purchase price reduces !). As far as I know , drones are controlled by high frequency radio waves (2.4 Ghtz apparently) so I don't know why airports don't employ some sort of 'jamming' device but I'm no expert . Since the flights were cancelled/delayed there would be no interference with aircraft systems . I suppose the only other means, which is rather crude, is for airports to employ marksmen to shoot the things out of the sky !! So, any drone experts out there ?
Quote:...airports to employ marksmen to shoot the things out of the sky !!
On the way to work this morning with Dad...Every mention of it on the radio was interrupted with the phrase "12 bore shot gun." I think that he wouldn't have needed paid to get the gun out...
The operator, he or she, would need a large number of batteries or a way of charging them and somewhere out of sight of the public to land the thing(s). Should be easy enough to locate the source with two or three frequency scanners???? .
Shrapnel and stray bullets were offered as a reason why not to shoot it.
Jamming was meant to be targetable but does not seem to have been deployed.
Another Drone with rotor entanglement was once suggested - where is it.
Critically the idiot/s behind it needs stopping - i wonder is any of the above are options?
Its a shame they don't make transmitters with MAC addresses like they do with Network cards - I know they can be spoofed but at least more could be tracked down more often - whether near prisons or runways.
Perhaps its time for a full trading ban on these along with hunting knives, certain chemicals and other disruptive products. I'm sure Kids toys and Ariel photographers will find another outlet until a better solution come into play.
Jamming was meant to be targetable but does not seem to have been deployed.
Another Drone with rotor entanglement was once suggested - where is it.
Critically the idiot/s behind it needs stopping - i wonder is any of the above are options?
Its a shame they don't make transmitters with MAC addresses like they do with Network cards - I know they can be spoofed but at least more could be tracked down more often - whether near prisons or runways.
Perhaps its time for a full trading ban on these along with hunting knives, certain chemicals and other disruptive products. I'm sure Kids toys and Ariel photographers will find another outlet until a better solution come into play.
Quote: The operator, he or she, would need a large number of batteries or a way of charging them and somewhere out of sight of the public to land the thing(s). Should be easy enough to locate the source with two or three frequency scanners???? .
If the control frequencies are in the open bands then many other radio sources will be present - home Wifi's, flash gun radio triggers, walkie talkies etc. You'd need to be able to track and target the particular set of control commands - (may be encrypted to avoid channel clash).
If the drone has preplanned waypoints programmed in it also may be flying with no human control - so no radio signals to detect.
Quote:If the drone has preplanned waypoints programmed in it also may be flying with no human control - so no radio signals to detect.
Exactly.
Press are speculating about new laws. There is already a law that forbids these flights near airports. What's the next law going to say? "Pretty please"?
Talk of new laws requiring all drone owners to register with CAA - I doubt the terrorists and smugglers will bother to do that though.,,,
Quote:The operator, he or she, would need a large number of batteries or a way of charging them and somewhere out of sight of the public to land the thing(s). Should be easy enough to locate the source with two or three frequency scanners?
Nope, up to 30 minute flight times from a single battery, easy enough to fly to a target 2 miles away and return (drones use GPS for automatic return to home). If signals are present they are standard Wi-Fi type and won't stand out from other Wi-Fi devices
They still need somewhere to take off & land. Also if they have been flying on & off since 9 o'clock last night then they aren't going to do that on one battery or one charge.
When Uber gets its flying taxi licenses it will be illegal for anyone to fly anywhere, even birds will have to walk.
Quote:They still need somewhere to take off & land.
Plenty of places to do that
Been some cases of drones getting too close to planes in the past and often put down to plane spotters or stupid kids.
These two drones at Gatwick sound like they are the more industrial type, Inspire etc - often 3 times the size of other drones, used by filmmakers and farmers and easily misused by terrorists
So who are those causing the issues. Assuming its not Heathrow vie-ing for more business.
- Teenagers just causing a nuisance
- AntiBusiness protestors
- Mental health personal issues
- Bitcoin extortionists holding the runway to ransom
- someone having an extended garden party under the flight path.
Its certain the abuse of technology will discussed for some time yet.
- Teenagers just causing a nuisance
- AntiBusiness protestors
- Mental health personal issues
- Bitcoin extortionists holding the runway to ransom
- someone having an extended garden party under the flight path.
Its certain the abuse of technology will discussed for some time yet.
