Most pilots preparing to land their airplanes as part of a small study were unable to see small drones approaching their airspace, and virtually all of the pilots were unable to detect stationary drones, researchers said in a report released today.
In 28 of 40 cases, the pilots did not detect “a common type of quadcopter” — a DJI Phantom IV — as it neared their approach path, researchers from Oklahoma State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University said. Their findings were published in the International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics and Aerospace and in a summary from Embry-Riddle.
When the drone was motionless, it was spotted in only three of 22 cases, the report said.
The distances from which drones were detected ranged from 213 to 2,324 ft (65 to 709 m).
Ryan J. Wallace, an assistant professor of aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle, said the findin…
