The sky is vast with plenty of airspace to share. However, with shared airspace comes shared responsibility for ensuring safety of flight. When operating in the airspace both drone pilots and crewed aircraft pilots must maintain vigilance and an awareness of other traffic for the sake of safety.
Drone pilots are responsible for knowing the position of their drone in relation to other aircraft, maintaining a safe distance, and giving the right-of-way to other aircraft. Drone pilots are also required to get authorization, typically through an approved Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) app or from the FAA Drone Zone, to fly under 400 feet in controlled airspace including at and around airports. It is important to remember that even when flying with proper authorization, there might still be low-flying aircraft in the area that are unaware of drone operations.
Crewed aircraft pilots use see-and-avoid techniques to spot other craft. However, it can be very easy to miss something as small as a drone or model aircraft, especially in low-visibility conditions. Crewed aircraft pilots may also not be able to maneuver quickly enough to avoid potential airborne conflicts.
This issue of UAS Safety In Sight presents excerpts from reports about drone operations at and around airports from multiple points of view.
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