Pilots' union reveals shocking number of near-misses between planes and drones

Planes have one near miss a week with drones amid growing fears of a disastrous mid-air crash, the flyers’ union revealed today.
Airline pilots have reported dozens of near-misses with unmanned aircraft in the first six months of the year.

There have been 26 reports of drones getting too close to planes or helicopters since January, compared with 29 in the whole of last year, said the British Airline Pilots Association.

Balpa plans a major research project with the Department for Transport and aviation experts Qinetiq to find out what carnage would be caused by a collision between a drone and a packed passenger jet.

Association general secretary Brian Strutton said: “Pilots are concerned about the growing number of near misses and the potential for catastrophe should a collision occur.

“We need to understand more about the threats drone pose and are working with the Government, regulators and airlines for funding for testing to make the danger clear.”

There were 10 times as many drone near-misses so far this year than in 2014, he told the Mirror.

There was none in 2013.

“It’s an increasing problem – and not jut the number of near-misses but the size of the drones,” he said.

“They are definitely getting bigger.

“Pilots have to take a decision about whether to take responsive action when they see a drone.

“They have got many other things they are trying to account of as well.”

He hoped research would reveal the potential impact of a drone strike.

“There’s lots of information about bird strikes and things like that, but nobody has actually tested what one of these big drones could do,” he said.

“We think there are severe under estimates about the dangers of drones.”

Project leaders are thrashing out details over whether the findings would be made public.

Mr Strutton also raised concerns about pilot tiredness, revealing airline bosses send pilots back into the skies despite them warning they are too tired to fly.

New European rules in mean pilots can fly for longer.

“We’re getting some real horror stories being reported to us about the length of time pilots are flying for without a rest,” he said.

Some fly for 20 hours, landing one plane before jumping back in the cockpit and taking off again without proper rest, he claimed.

Airline bosses pressure pilots into flying long hours, telling them: “Get back out there, we have got passengers to fly”, said Mr Srutton.

He warned: “Pilots have got to be able to say, “I don’t feel safe’.

“Just under half of pilots told us they have been compromised by fatigue – ‘compromised’ is a polite way of saying dropping off or losing concentration at the controls.

“It’s obviously a risk to safety.”

Pilots at one airline could strike over the long hours they are required to fly.

He also hit out at airlines which hire agency pilots, saying the terms were “almost Sports Direct-style”.

Mr Strutton also warned the Brexit fall out could delay a tough new crackdown on lasers pens pointed at aircraft.

Fifty-five per cent of pilots have experienced a “laser attack” in the past 12 months.

Stepping up Balpa’s campaign for tougher enforcement, he called for lasers to be treated as potential weapons.

“People need to understand they are not toys and pointing them at an aircraft puts all those on board and those on the ground nearby in danger,” warned Mr Strutton.

He believes Westminster wrangling in the wake of last week’s EU referendum Out vote could stall moves for a tougher clampdown.

(culled from www.mirror.co.uk)