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I wonder how they reliably identify something as a drone and not some birds? Edit: I wouldn't have thought you'd be able to hear a drone (airports being somewh

I wonder how they reliably identify something as a drone and not some birds? Edit: I wouldn't have thought you'd be able to hear a drone (airports being somewhat noisy) and at night it must be pretty tricky to reliably identity one and I haven't seen any pictures or videos?

kortilla 8y ago
All birds file flight plans with the FAA after the Sully mishap.
- Sharlin 8y ago
  That doesn’t help much at Gatwick though.
moonbug 8y ago
Binoculars.
entity345 8y ago
In this case they quite simply saw the drones... It seems to be the most common way of identifying them.
- joncrocks 8y ago
  It's probably good to note that this was at 9pm, at night, coming up on the shortest day of the year. So while it's possible they were seen, it's not going to be as cut and dry as during the day.
  - entity345 8y ago
    I have read the article, which mentions that the drones were "seen" and "spotted flying over the perimeter fence", that the runways were closed due to "further sightings". So...
    - arethuza 8y ago
      But people get that kind of thing wrong all the time - what it particularly reminded me of was this incident with a bear being reported as an "intruder" at a US airfield during the Cuban Missile crisis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volk_Field_Air_National_Guard_Base#False_alarm_incident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volk_Field_Air_National_Guard_... NB I'm not saying they weren't drones - just curious how reliable the reports are likely to be.
      - entity345 8y ago
        We're talking about pilots, airport personel, and police, who have been reporting several drone sightings over a long period, and are continuing to report drone sightings (the runway is still closed because drones are still being seen despite the area now teeming with police). Seems to me to be as reliable as can be. There have been many previous incidents and the occurrence is increasing. This seems to be the major one that is going to shake things up.
        deadbunny 8y ago
        I mean they confuse plastic bags for drones [1]. I don't have as much blind faith as you. 1. https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/22/11486256/drone-collision-uk-plastic-bag https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/22/11486256/drone-collision-...
  - cjrp 8y ago
    Presumably the drones had lights on, since it seems like the drone-operator was actually trying to cause disruption.
KineticLensman 8y ago
Radar. Various companies are already marketing counter-drone radar systems. Drone propellers are particularly non-stealthy, and also help discriminate drones from large birds.

kortilla 8y ago

All birds file flight plans with the FAA after the Sully mishap.

Sharlin 8y ago
That doesn’t help much at Gatwick though.

moonbug 8y ago

Binoculars.

entity345 8y ago

In this case they quite simply saw the drones... It seems to be the most common way of identifying them.

joncrocks 8y ago
It's probably good to note that this was at 9pm, at night, coming up on the shortest day of the year. So while it's possible they were seen, it's not going to be as cut and dry as during the day.
- entity345 8y ago
  I have read the article, which mentions that the drones were "seen" and "spotted flying over the perimeter fence", that the runways were closed due to "further sightings". So...
  - arethuza 8y ago
    But people get that kind of thing wrong all the time - what it particularly reminded me of was this incident with a bear being reported as an "intruder" at a US airfield during the Cuban Missile crisis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volk_Field_Air_National_Guard_Base#False_alarm_incident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volk_Field_Air_National_Guard_... NB I'm not saying they weren't drones - just curious how reliable the reports are likely to be.
    - entity345 8y ago
      We're talking about pilots, airport personel, and police, who have been reporting several drone sightings over a long period, and are continuing to report drone sightings (the runway is still closed because drones are still being seen despite the area now teeming with police). Seems to me to be as reliable as can be. There have been many previous incidents and the occurrence is increasing. This seems to be the major one that is going to shake things up.
      - deadbunny 8y ago
        I mean they confuse plastic bags for drones [1]. I don't have as much blind faith as you. 1. https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/22/11486256/drone-collision-uk-plastic-bag https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/22/11486256/drone-collision-...
- cjrp 8y ago
  Presumably the drones had lights on, since it seems like the drone-operator was actually trying to cause disruption.

KineticLensman 8y ago

Radar. Various companies are already marketing counter-drone radar systems. Drone propellers are particularly non-stealthy, and also help discriminate drones from large birds.