An aviation expert is calling for drones to be labelled as a consequence of recent incidents at airports, reported dpa.
"We need complete and mandatory visibility of all legal drones so that they can be quickly distinguished from illegal ones, Gerald Wissel, chairman of the Association for Unmanned Aviation, told dpa.
He added: "When I see a drone, who decides whether it's good or bad? And how do I decide that?"
Questions like these are still in their infancy, Wissel explained. He believes that airports in Germany are not protected from drones.
Who is responsible for safety?
According to air traffic regulations, airport operators are responsible for protection and must take appropriate measures.
"Airports must finally invest here," said Wissel, who also works with the aviation consultancy Airborne.
The airport association ADV disagreed: "Technical monitoring of the airspace around airports is the responsibility of air traffic control, while active defence measures may only be carried out by police authorities." Airports have no responsibilities in this area.
"The police authorities are aware of their responsibilities," the association emphasized. It said that operational concepts and state-funded and efficient protection systems are needed.
Drones of unknown origin disrupted flight operations at Germany's second-largest airport in Munich this week while last week, drones were spotted over the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein.
Dangerous drones
Wissel warned of the danger of drones getting close to aeroplanes at airports: "It's a foreign object in the air that can get into the engines, crash into the windscreen and ultimately disrupt take-off and landing."
As it is difficult to predict where a drone will fly, a "virtual fence" must be erected at all airports to prevent them from flying any further, he added.
But Wissel said that he did not expect the latest incidents to affect travel during the upcoming autumn holidays.
"If people want to travel, they will travel. Then they quickly forget something like this. We also experienced this during the coronavirus period."
But he noted that the situation would be different if drone flights were to occur more frequently near airports and cause damage.
- Germany
- Drones
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
