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Close calls with UAVs rise in 2015

17th August 2015 - 13:30 GMT | by Shephard News Team

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The number of airplane and helicopter pilots reporting close calls with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the US is rising sharply as the unauthorised use of UAS in national airspace continues to increase.

The FAA reports that pilots of various aircraft types, including commercial air carriers, called in a total of 238 sightings in 2014 - a figure that has risen to over 650 by August of 2015.

The number of pilots reporting UAVs at up to 10,000ft altitude also increased to 138 in June and 137 in July 2015; up from 16 in June 2014, and 36 in July 2014.

Firefighters dealing with wildfire blazes in the country's west also had to stop their operations on various occasions due to safety reasons when they spotted one or more UAVs in immediate vicinity.

The FAA is working to send out a clear message that operating UAVs around airplanes and helicopters is dangerous and illegal.

The agency is liaising with industry partners under the ‘Know Before You Fly’ campaign to educate UAV users about where they can operate within the rules. It is also supporting the National Interagency Fire Center to help reduce interference with firefighting operations though its ‘If You Fly, We Can’t’ campaign.

The FAA is also working with the law enforcement community to identify and investigate unauthorised UAV operations, and has penalised operators for a number of such flights.

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