3D Robotics

The Canadian regulators are rightly investigating the above video, which seems shockingly irresponsible. From Global News:

VANCOUVER – More than five months after a YouTube video was first published, concerns are growing about possible conflicts between drones and aircraft.

Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and are soaring in popularity.

However, a video posted by ‘Quadrotor Dragonfly’ shows a remote-control drone shooting video of a jet landing at Vancouver International Airport. The drone appears to be at about the same altitude as the jet and not very far away.

Transport Canada regulates drone use in this country and is trying to track down the owner of this one.

“Air Canada 777 observed a small helicopter, he thought it was a real helicopter,” said Bill Yearwood from the Transportation Safety Board. “But when he got closer he realized it was a remote control helicopter.”

He said encountering something like this on final approach in a jet can be disconcerting, if not outright dangerous.

“Quite a sophisticated toy,” he added. The technology is quite good, it makes it easy for somebody to operate and it can operate far away from that person, so that combination can present a hazard if used by irresponsible operators.”

In an email statement from Transport Canada they said:

“Transport Canada is aware of the videos posted on YouTube showing a unmanned air vehicle (UAV) flying near Vancouver International Airport and Vancouver Harbour.

Transport Canada is very concerned about the operations of this UAV and we have been working with the RMCP to determine the operator’s identity. We are continuing to investigate the incident. We urge anyone with information on the videos to please call Transport Canada or email the Civil Aviation Issues Reporting System to report this or similar incidents.”

Yearwood said even if a jet engine ingested a drone, it probably wouldn’t cause a crash as the jet could keep flying on the other engine, but they do not want to investigate any aircraft / drone collisions.

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Comments

  • There is a remote possibility that he might be outside the class D airspace, but a total failure of class C. He might have had a transponder...he might even have had clearance...(though I doubt it).

    Beyond question is his altitude...that's definitely not 400ft AGL...

    The video was professionally shot, with a proper zoom camera. At the end of the day, someone should have known better.

  • For the people on here thinking the this whole story is made up because "that isn't a 777"...Very observant.  You're right. That isn't a 777.  It is FLIGHT #777. And that is exactly how the article is worded too.,\

  • I love dat filming team

  • Comment by John Maffetone 6 hours ago
    Perhaps the sale of the ready to fly drones should be more strictly regulated. It's usually the amateurs who buy the rtf versions and are unaware of their restrictions.

    Chinese minidrones In Vietnam?
    lol
    It poor but FREE country.

  • Wot a f**king idiot. Prison would sort it!
  • Regarding a pilot's ability to see a UAV I would say it depends on how close it is.  Pilots eyes are adapted to spot objects in the sky and I can say from experience if a hawk or seagull gets close to a small aircraft I am in, it certainly has my attention.

  • Perhaps the sale of the ready to fly drones should be more strictly regulated. It's usually the amateurs who buy the rtf versions and are unaware of their restrictions.
  • Craig Doyle 2 hours ago
    Very good postmastaring

  • Very stupid histeria  - half year ago vietnamese tourist make beautyfull footage of vancoover area w dronecam. That's all.

  • Craig, yeah, I originally thought this was a high performance system like a Sony BOSS handicam on a 3-axis gimbal.  But on further review, it's probably just a GoPro with some pretty good post-stabilization and digital zoom.

This reply was deleted.