Let's learn from drone cockups: Confidential reports service opens up to unmanned fliers

Fresh from the latest Gatwick drone controversy, aviation charity CHIRP is launching a confidential drone incident reporting service for commercial and recreational drone fliers. The free-to-use service mirrors CHIRP's existing manned aviation functions, in which pilots and aviation professionals of all hues raise issues of …

[iron]

> With the use of drones so rapidly on the rise in recent years and so many high-profile drone-related incidents disrupting flights at airports

Name one other than the still unproven incidents at Gatwick.

[Martin Gregorie]

Dunstable a year or two back: a two-seat training glider on finals at the London Gliding Club had a near miss on a drone, which was so close that there was absolutely no question of it being anything else.

There was absolutely no excuse for the drone to be where it was because (a) gliders will have been using that same approach path all day and (b) where it was being flown from was very close to Luton airspace. I've flown at LGC, so have received the club's airspace briefing and know just how close the clubs' airfield is to Luton airspace.

[Anonymous Coward]

so many high-profile drone-related incidents disrupting flights

So many false reports of what used to be plastic bags until the drone excuse came along.

[Anonymous Coward]

aviation charity

er... WHAT?! Are they a non-profit with a budget of (...) dedicated to the protection of endangered drone species? Reproduction of human pilots? Preservation of avians? Re-housing of missing avatars? :(

[Danny 2]

Haha

Chirp's "Flying Displays & Special Events Report Form" crashes and burns!

https://www.chirp.co.uk/upload/docs/Report%20Forms/Flying%20Displays%20&%20Special%20Events%20Report%20Form%20-%202%20Pages.pdf

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[Clive Galway]

The registration of drone operators becomes mandatory in the UK from tomorrow

Only for drones >=250g

[Christoph]

"Just Culture is one of the keystones of conventional aviation safety."

And with very good reason - lack of that was a contributing factor to the Tenerife disaster.

[macjules]

A drone is not just for Christmas ..

Just got referred to the https://register-drones.caa.co.uk site for an Operator ID and a bit confused about this. The site states that "You must be at least 18 years old to get an operator ID. You must be at least 13 years old to get a flyer ID." yet defines both as this:

You both fly and are responsible for them = flyer ID and operator ID @ £9 charge

You just fly other people's = flyer ID @ no charge

You’re only responsible and do not fly = operator ID @£9

Does this mean that you can own a drone and not fly it but you must be 18+ or own and fly it and be 13+. If I buy a drone for someone under 18, do they then become the operator, as the 'owner' and not the 'flyer'?

I hope to God there are clearer guidelines for commercial jet pilots.