Drones in two "near-misses" with aircraft

Monday 30 July 2018

Two drones' "near-misses" with aircraft - including a commercial jet - in recent weeks have sparked an urgent warning to keep them well away from the airport.

Two pilots reported seeing a drone only a few hundred metres from their aircraft while on final approach at the airport.

One of the incidents over the airfield involved a commercial passenger aircraft and the other a large corporate jet. The final approach is one of the most challenging for any pilot, as the aircraft is vulnerable due to its low speed and proximity to the ground. Therefore, anything that can cause disruption to this process, whether it’s a bird or a drone could potentially be catastrophic. 

Stephen Driscoll, Chief Operating Officer and Airport Director, said: “It is an offence to fly a drone within two nautical miles of the airport or higher than 400 feet without prior permission from Jersey’s Air Traffic Control. Both of these near misses have been reported to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Director of Civil Aviation (DCA) and Jersey Police who are investigating.

"While it is not known if the intrusion was deliberate, drone users should be aware of the potential catastrophic impact as a result of their inappropriate actions.”

Pictured: One of the near-misses involved a commercial passenger aircraft.

Ports of Jersey recognises and welcomes the increasing rise in drone usage, which can lead to some spectacular aerial footage, nowadays often used for commercial purposes. It has published a set of guidelines, including safety measures, available to view online, which drone users must adopt. The team is also happy to provide additional guidance and clarification by email (atc@ports.je) should potential users require it.

While the majority of users abide by these measures airport authorities are reminding users that it only takes one infringement to cause a major incident.

Ports of Jersey and the Police have also received concerning reports of drones flying over congested areas of St.Helier, in particular over secure parts of the harbour and marinas at places where the discharging of fuel tankers frequently takes place. This activity is also illegal under both the Air Navigation and the Maritime Security Orders. 

Pictured: It is an offence to fly a drone over secure parts of the harbour and marinas.

Chief Inspector Mark Coxhall said: “The benefits attached to using drone technology are clear and at times can provide valuable assistance to the work of blue light services. Equally through, the clear risks associated to operating drones outside of the law and guidance offered by our partners, Ports of Jersey, can be a serious matter. Anything that could compromise the safety of the public will always attract our attention and working closely with partners we hope to avoid such eventualities”.  

Mr Driscoll recently attended an industry workshop in the UK along with the Department for Transport and the Airport Operators Association (AOPA) during which time discussion took place relating to new legislation to protect flight safety as the use of drones is presenting a significant risk to aircraft globally. 

Although it is assumed not all incidents are reported, Ports of Jersey has referred over 20 different types of drone incidents to the States of Jersey Police over the past three years. Last year, a Freedom of Information request revealed that the number of complaints against drones saw a dramatic rise between 2015 and 2016, jumping from 2 to 12.