Drones And The Problems For Major International Airports — Omar Kaddouha
Drones are bad news in any International Airport. If a drone is suspected to be around an airport, all airport activities are shut down or suspended for hours. Everyone who was travelling will have their plans disrupted immediately when a drone is spotted.
How Drones Cause So Much Disruption In Airports
Airports operate under the just-in-time technique. There will be a plane moving off or onto the runways after every 45 seconds. International Airports operate numerous flights and to different destinations so you can imagine how busy they are.
If drones are present, they may interrupt the flow of planes onto and off the runways especially if planes have to reroute. Even worse, the air traffic control can’t predict where the drone will fly or what it can do so every activity has to be on a standstill once a drone is sighted.
What Happens If A Drone Hits A Plane?
If a drone hit a plane, it could end up in severe chaos. Some researchers from the university of Dayton Research Institute conducted an experiment by firing a one-kilogram commercial drone to the wing of a plane which was about 400 kilometers an hour.
The visual wasn’t pleasing as the front edge of the wing tore into many pieces. Those researchers used drones and wings to imitate those on standard planes and those types of drones easily found online.
Is It Possible To Stop Drones From Flying In The Airport?
Though in principle it is possible, it is very tricky in practice. A drone is very small for a traditional radar hence it can’t pick it. This implies that drones must be spotted by an eye hence any activity of stopping them is both slow and inaccurate. If one is spotted in an airport, police officers are called to search for it.
Are There Protections Against Drones?
International airports that have faced a disruption due to the presence of a drone have installed a protection system worth a huge capital. One airport which faced such disruptions is Gatwick which installed a system of about £1 million. The protection system comprises a 360-degree radar as well as thermal imaging systems and a radio jammer.
Though such protection systems are important, deliberate attacks may circumvent these systems. The only sure way to stop drones without risking any damages is stopping those with evil intentions from having them in the first place. Therefore strict security measures in and around the airport is required.
Problems For Major Airports
International airports face a number of problems. Some are security threats including criminal plots to place explosives on planes which may cause death to everyone boarding the plane. There are also illegal shipments of dangerous materials which may cause havoc to a country or the world at large.
Airports are not safe when it comes to criminal activities. Criminals smuggle goods and even steal at the airport. Any person who has access to an aircraft may hijack the plane and sabotage the whole process.
There may also be disruptions in airport machines which may interrupt the whole flight schedule causing delays. Other common problems include congestion at the airport and unfavourable weather patterns.
International airports serve many people and different destinations so there may be congestion of people trying to make their travel plans while others are boarding the plane. Air transport is controlled by climate so bad weather may disrupt flight schedules causing delays.
