Drones at Gatwick Airport

[endofthelinefinally]

Whole airport is shut down. It is chaos and the police can't bring the drone over the runway down.

It's all extremely bizarre. I can't believe it's environmental activists - surely either they'd be publicising it massively and standing there waiting to be arrested or dotting in and out of airports, an hour here / a sighting there to avoid being caught.

It feels like it's either a total random who doesn't believe they'll be caught because they're in their own world, or otherwise a foreign power/entity that isn't worried about being caught because they'll just get who-ever it is out of the country.

Mind you, my favourite conspiracy theory right now is that in fact Teresa May is in league with the Russians (or the Chinese, or the Russians and the Chinese) to bring the country to a standstill by every means possible...

Agree about the uncertainty of be flying anywhere right now. DP is in another country for Christmas with his children, then coming back with them just after, I really, really hope they figure out what is going on before then :(

I have a relative who was due to fly with TUi yesterday at 4pm. Last night they were took to a hotel And now they've been told their flight has been cancelled so they're not sure what's happening now.

I don't believe this was a cover story. I think it is exactly what it seems.

What I don't understand is how my colleague has to have a licence to fly one for work but anyone off the street can buy one and fly it. Surely there should be a licence and registration requirement for all

You need a licence to fly a drone weighing 20kg or more. You don't need a licence to buy such a drone (just as you don't need a licence to buy a car) but you are breaking the law if you fly it without a licence.

I do think the manufacturers of Drones should take more responsibility for their irresponsible use

Many drones are now fitted with GPS and cannot be flown into restricted areas. However, it may be possible for someone technically knowledgeable to disable these systems. But ultimately, saying the manufacturer should be responsible is like holding car manufacturers responsible for people who drive cars irresponsibly.

I just don't see how on earth they can find who is doing it? Unless it's someone actually sees them standing there with the remote control. I also worry that it will spark copy cats.

@prh47bridge I get you but car makers were forced to install safety features over the past several decades such as seatbelts and airbags because cars were deemed unsafe for the public use. Know what I mean?

Not sure why people are worrying out the legalities of drone usage - clearly this is not legal, and the person(s) doing it are not concerned about that!

Whitney it's illegal to drive a car without a licence, MOT and insurance, and clearly some people still do it, but it doesn't stop us from having laws governing the issue.

Probably a random geek

I agree with GaryBaldbiscuit, I think it’s a random geek just getting his kicks.
Probably a teen who has just broke up for the Christmas holidays.

Agreed. I'd imagine a geeky rebel without a cause too, doing it just because they can.

Either that or someone with anti-drone technology to sell who hasn't been able to convince many potential customers thus far that there's a real problem to be solved. (Kidding, I think.)

Runway shut again

JingsMahBucket

Airbags are not compulsory. Seatbelts are. However, both features only protect the driver. They do not protect others from irresponsible drivers.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-46657505

Pretty sure it’s the Russians - the police are being very guarded about what they release about it and apparently the drones are ‘industrial’ which basically means military grade. My husbands friend used to work for the MoD and apparently there’s too secret stuff under Gatwick Airport.

*top

the drones are ‘industrial’ which basically means military grade

No, by far the biggest users of 'industrial' grade drones are people looking after infrastructure. A drone is classed as 'commercial' if it's used in return for payment. If you are operating one, you need approval from the CAA. However, like a car, you don't need a license to buy one.

Architects and surveyors use them, so do engineers. I’ve seen videos of them being used for tunnelling projects.

Even google earth maps - some of those aren’t photos but computer generated photogrammetry images.

Some of the drones are massive though. I’ve seen some at shows that can carry quite heavy equipment. Hugely expensive though and not something you can just pick up from Argos!

I really feel for the 2 who were questioned about this; now released without charge but their names are forever associated with it...

Even worse there pics are plastered everywhere too

Yes @Maryjoyce - awful - horrendous - they shouldn't have been named at all as I bet they have also had online abuse from trolls

All very bizarre... now they're saying it was probably the police's own drones...WTF?!! Yeah right.
Illuminati up to usual tricks again no doubt... you wait, there'll be a new law along any minute prohibiting drone use by us minions..hmmmm.