Aircraft encounters with improperly operated drones represent a major safety risk, largely because of “the unpredictability of the operators and inability to pinpoint their location,” according to data collected by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).1
The data took the form of a five-year trend analysis included in the IATA Safety Report 2018, which was released in April. The analysis, which had been requested “in recognition of the increased threat from UAS [unmanned aircraft systems, as drones are sometimes known] encounters,” was intended as an aid in identifying specific issues associated with encounters between manned aircraft and drones.
“As the use of UAS is rapidly increasing, so, too, is the related risk of associated incidents and/or accidents, which make[s] the risk mitigation of these illegal UAS operations that …
