Drones, otherwise known as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) get a bad reputation in the mass media. Simply typing “drone” into a Google news search would make you think they’re public enemy number one! So is this an accurate depiction of the entire unmanned aerial community?
We took a look at the data to help you formulate your own opinion. Leveraging data the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) makes available to the public we looked at reported incidents concerning drones operating near manned aircraft. Our analysis shows where these incidents are most prevalent, how they measure up against the big picture, and finally giving you the opportunity to review the reports yourselves.
The threat that drones can pose to manned aircraft is not a matter to be taken lightly. There is no doubt that there are unscrupulous or uneducated drone owners that operate in manned airspace. A drone could absolutely cause catastrophic damage to a manned aircraft. However, it seems that the hype is unwarranted. If you compare the reported incidents to the big picture – how many planes are in the sky it’s not that significant of a threat. If you review the reports it appears many of them could be mistaken identity, including:
- Reports of drones operating at heights that would be unreasonable for most consumer drones
- Reports from pilots traveling at speeds that would make a positive identification difficult
- Unsubstantiated reports from individuals on the ground of lights resembling drones
Don’t take our word for it, look at the data yourself and see what you think! Check out our interactive visualization below! View reports by state, city, year, etc. Review the narratives for yourself.
