Drones were involved in 24 near-midair collisions (NMACs) with piloted aircraft during a recent three-year period at one busy U.S. airport, according to a study published in the Society of Automotive Engineers’ SAE International Journal of Aerospace.
In each instance, the drone and the piloted aircraft were within 500 ft (152 m) of each other in the area around Dallas-Fort Worth (Texas, U.S.) international Airport (DFW). Most of the close encounters occurred within 1.5 nm (2.8 km) of a runway approach or departure zone, said the study, conducted by researchers from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and Unmanned Robotic Systems Analysis Inc. (URSA).
Their findings prompted the researchers to recommend extending the runway exclusion zone at the ends of high-risk runways to bar drones from operating within 3.5 nm (6.5 km) of the approach or departure zone. The current exclusion zone extends 1 nm (1.6…
