Informing Airports About Drones: A Comprehensive Guide

Drone sightings at airports can be a serious threat to aircraft safety. Airports must be prepared to detect and mitigate drone incidents, and it is important that the public knows how to inform the relevant authorities of any drone sightings. In this article, we will explore the best ways to inform an airport of a drone sighting, as well as the procedures that airports should have in place to deal with such an incident.

Contact the airport and air traffic control tower by phone

If you want to fly your drone within five miles of an airport, you must contact the airport and air traffic control tower in advance. The traditional way to do this is to find the telephone numbers for the airport and air traffic control and call them. You can also use a handheld with a headset adapter and your FAA-assigned number to call the tower. Some mobile phone apps allow you to electronically submit notices to some airports. However, it is not required or desired to contact ATC by radio.

Submit an electronic notice via a mobile app

You can submit an electronic notice via a mobile app to inform an airport of your drone activity. Some airports allow you to submit notices electronically through mobile apps. This is an alternative to the traditional way of calling the airport and air traffic control.

You can also send a letter to the airport manager, informing them of your intentions to fly your drone. This should include your contact details and the location of your property in relation to the runway.

It is important to note that the FAA considers drones to be aircraft. Therefore, you must provide prior notice to the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower if you plan to fly your drone within 5 miles of an airport. Model aircraft operators flying from a permanent location within 5 miles of an airport should establish a mutually agreed-upon operating procedure with the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower.

Establish a Memorandum of Understanding

A Memorandum of Understanding should be established to outline the role of each party in the event of a drone incident. This should be created in collaboration with the relevant authorities, such as air traffic control and security forces, to ensure the safety of aircraft at and around the airport.

The Memorandum of Understanding should include agreed-upon information gathering, verification, and communication methods to assess the credibility of a drone sighting report. This will help determine if a drone incident should be declared.

Additionally, the Memorandum should outline the procedures for performing threat assessments to evaluate the nature and severity of the threat. This information will guide the appropriate response measures to be taken by the relevant authorities.

To establish effective communication channels, the Memorandum should also specify the contact information and preferred methods of communication for reporting drone sightings. This may include telephone numbers, mobile phone apps, or other electronic submission systems.

Furthermore, the Memorandum of Understanding should address any specific requirements or regulations related to drone operations within a certain distance of the airport, such as the need for prior notice or mutually agreed-upon operating procedures. By establishing a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding, all parties involved will have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in managing drone incidents, ensuring a coordinated and effective response.

Prepare documents and reports for the relevant authorities

When informing an airport of a drone, you must prepare the appropriate documents and reports for the relevant authorities. This should be done as soon as possible after the incident.

First, you should create a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the role of each party in the event of an incident. This should include the detection and mitigation solutions needed to protect the airport from rogue drones.

Upon receiving a drone sighting report, you should work with the relevant authorities to determine if the report is credible enough to declare a drone incident. This should be based on the information gathering, verification, and communication methods you’ve already agreed upon. If the threat is genuine, perform a threat assessment to determine its nature and severity. Air traffic control and security forces will use this information to determine the appropriate response measures to ensure the safety of aircraft.

You may need to carry out multiple threat assessments as events unfold to keep ground teams informed. It is important to note that contacting ATC by radio is not required or desired. Instead, you can find the telephone numbers for the airport and air traffic control and call them. Alternatively, some mobile phone apps allow you to electronically submit notices to some airports.

Perform a threat assessment

Threat assessments are a crucial part of ensuring the safety of aircraft and airports. When a drone sighting is reported, it is important to work with relevant authorities to determine the credibility of the report and whether it poses a genuine threat. This involves gathering and verifying information, and effective communication between all parties is key.

The first step in performing a threat assessment is to establish the nature and severity of the threat. This includes considering factors such as the proximity of the drone to the airport, its size and capabilities, and any potential impact on aircraft operations. It is also important to consider the intentions of the drone operator, as malicious or reckless behaviour could indicate a higher level of threat.

To make an accurate assessment, multiple sources of information should be utilised. This could include radar and visual detection systems, as well as reports from witnesses or other sources. By triangulating this information, a clearer picture of the threat can be formed.

In some cases, it may be necessary to carry out multiple threat assessments as the situation unfolds, particularly if the drone is still in the vicinity of the airport. This allows ground teams to remain informed and prepared to take appropriate action.

Finally, it is important to have clear protocols in place for responding to drone threats. This includes determining the appropriate response measures, such as diverting or grounding aircraft, and ensuring that all relevant parties are trained and prepared to implement these measures effectively.

Frequently asked questions