The article by Bill Carey looks into matters arising from the lack of proper laws and restrictions by the FAA to curb incidences caused by the illegal flying of drones near airports (Carey 4). Carey acknowledges the increase of drone hobbyists and their desire to capture different scenarios. Moreover, the cost of acquiring a drone is slightly cheaper than they were a few years back. Therefore, the common citizens can afford to enjoy flying these drones in designated places. According to a report published by FAA in May 2016 stated that there were 443,000 registered drones weighing between 0.5 pounds and 55 pounds (Carey 5). The Small Unmanned Aircraft System Registration Service is responsible for registering the drones and regulating the airspace. The agency together with the UAS traffic management seeks to introduce a tracking application, ‘Sky Tracker’ to detect drones in various areas.
Carey’s main focus in the article is the need of providing proper regulations of flying drones near airports and how to detect them. He highlights the plea of flight crews who state that the hobbyists who flout the voluntary rule of flying at an altitude of below 400 feet, five miles away from the airport (Carey 4). A study conducted by the Center for the Study of the Drone cited 921 cases involving manned aircraft and drones between December 2013 and September 2016. The study was in two sections: sighting and close encounters. Sightings mean incidences where a pilot or the controller spots a drone near or within a flight path while close encounters mean incidences where the plane and drone came close to collide. Sightings were at 64.5 percent while close encounters were at 35.5 percent (Carey 4). Carey looks into FAA’s defense system against drones, where the department is looking into developing a computer simulation of how drones will affect aircraft airframes and engines. The previous and current research projects currently stand at $148 million in funding and 146 in various prototypes. These projects include Digital Notice and Awareness System, which is a notification system for unmanned aircraft operators on the flight paths of nearby flights (Carey 5). Carrey concludes that these solutions will benefit both sides and be more effective than the point and shoot system currently in use.
The article provides a brief look into the issue, which is incidences caused by drones flying near airports, as well as possible solutions. Carrey’s focus on matter arising demonstrates the need to introduce an immediate solution to the matter. Moreover, the increasing number of hobbyists buying the drones is set to increase, and the issue will gradually increase with time. The enthusiast will try and push their drones into unregulated places in search of better views, which will interfere with flight paths. The article has actual figures and possible estimates of the issue, which helps one to understand the concern and visualize its predicament in the end. Carrey looks into the bodies concerned with aerospace such as FAA, UAS traffic management and Small Unmanned Aircraft System Registration Service among others, and their roles towards providing a solution to the issue. It is quite clear for one to see the effort taken by the FAA in looking for a solution to the matter. Moreover, the article indicates the amount used in the project and the number of projects the department commissioned in the last two years.
Despite having a good review of the issue, the article lacks a proper flow in presenting the issue. It provides a brief overview, the proposed defense system then the current system. It may confuse a reader as they try to piece the connection between two or more sections within the article. Another issue is the brief summary of the current defense system, which is point and shoot. Carrey uses its imagery as the title’s main picture but describes it in one paragraph, which is not quite efficient in understanding how it works and what is wrong with it. In conclusion, the article is substantial in understanding the issues facing manned aircraft and airports as they seek to regulate the flight regulations of drones.
Work Cited
Carey, Bill. "Taking stock of the drone universe." 2016. PDF. < http://www.ainonline.com/sites/default/files/pdf/ain_2016_drones.pdf >
