IATA Chief: Drones Pose Real Threat To Civilian Aviations

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Members of the general public operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are a “a real and growing threat” to civilian aircraft, warns Tony Tyler, director-general of the International Air Transport Association.

Speaking at a conference in Singapore, Tyler called for implementing UAV regulations before a serious accident occurs.

“I am as excited as you are about the prospect of having pizza delivered by a drone,” he said. “But we cannot allow [drones] to be a hindrance or safety threat to commercial aviation.”

“The issue is real. We have plenty of pilot reports of drones where they were not expected, particularly at low altitudes around airports,” he explained. “There is no denying that there is a real and growing threat to the safety of civilian aircraft.”

“We need a sensible approach to regulation and a pragmatic method of enforcement for those who disregard rules and regulations and put others in danger.”

The BBC reports that recently, UAVs were involved in four severe near-misses at British airports. In one incident, a drone nearly collided with a Boeing 737 that had taken off from Stansted International Airport near London, according to the UK Air Proximity Board.

According to Rob Eagles of IATA, the organisation’s main concern is with UAVs flying too low near airports. This threatens the safety of aircraft as they take off or land.

Eagles added that IATA is concerned with keeping the radio spectrum used by air traffic control systems free from interference from UAV control systems.

International UAV manufacturing standards should alleviate at least the latter of these concernes.