Activists to fly drones at Heathrow

[dannybgoode]

Just what we need in the UK just as the new drone regs are being considered.

Activists to fly drones at Heathrow in attempt to ground flights

Members of Heathrow Pause say action on 13 September will not involve flight paths

www.theguardian.com

 

[zocalo]

I dunno, a few examples being made from protestors that are clearly not part of the mainstream UAV community might not be all that much of a bad thing. Note also that the UK media (which hasn't exactly been overly opposed to Extinction Rebellion) is even distancing this group from ER by referring to them as a "splinter group", so they're even protecting ER from the inevitable backlash if this goes ahead.

If nothing else, it'll firmly establish in the minds of the rogue elements that *are* within our community what they'd potentially be facing if caught, especially if they get hit with a civil suit from Heathrow. If that makes even a few more pilots pay a little more attention to flying safely and legally, then that's a win for all concerned, right?

 

[dannybgoode]

I dunno, a few examples being made from protestors that are clearly not part of the mainstream UAV community might not be all that much of a bad thing. Note also that the UK media (which hasn't exactly been overly opposed to Extinction Rebellion) is even distancing this group from ER by referring to them as a "splinter group", so they're even protecting ER from the inevitable backlash if this goes ahead.

If nothing else, it'll firmly establish in the minds of the rogue elements that *are* within our community what they'd potentially be facing if caught, especially if they get hit with a civil suit from Heathrow. If that makes even a few more pilots pay a little more attention to flying safely and legally, then that's a win for all concerned, right?

A fair observation - it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. Of course the whole thing may never get off the ground (sorry!). It’ll be a good test of anti-drone jamming capabilities of nothing else .

 

[gnirtS]

Should really be merged with this thread:

Another Heathrow drone attack in planning

This may have been posted in another thread or I may be posting in the wrong forum Saw an article today that a splinter group of EXTINCTION REBELLION is planning another drone attack on Heathrow starting Friday, Sept 13 and lasting for a week, or longer. The plan is to fly the drones at head...

mavicpilots.com

 

[zocalo]

A fair observation - it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. Of course the whole thing may never get off the ground (sorry!). It’ll be a good test of anti-drone jamming capabilities of nothing else .

Given it sounds like they're planning on using cheap, probably WiFi based, drones at random locations all around the airport I doubt we'll get to see much wide-area anti-drone jamming tech deployed. At least not unless LHR wants to cause more upset than the protests by disrupting WiFi for everyone within a five mile radius, or has some way of picking out the drones specifically (ID the vendor from the OUI in the MAC address, then swamp that specific address with packets perhaps?)

Be interesting to see what LHR does if this goes ahead though. Maybe deploy a bunch of spotters and only halt flights if they suspect (or maybe even detect) a drone operating in a manner that might endanger an aircraft? A <250g drone being flown at head height, outside aircraft operational zones, probably isn't worth halting operations for, but I doubt that'll stop them trying to identify and arrest the pilot.

 

[gnirtS]

Jamming (Wifi or other) would be trivial to do but not fix the issue.
Far better just to arrest these utter cretins and slap them with a big fine (that mummy and daddy will pay). Repeat as needed.

And yes, even Kismet is capable of picking drone links out of the wifi spectrum.

 

[dannybgoode]

@zocalo - to be honest I suspect LHR would put up with the flack of taking out everyone’s wifi than suffer days of grounded flights.

Agree though that so long as we’re talking about Hubsan type toy drones at head height and not on flight paths they may just continue flying.

There’s always the possibility of an idiot turning up with something bigger though and doing something stupid

 

[gnirtS]

If they got ignored the soap dodgers would up their game and start encroaching on the airfield or similar.
Better just to arrest them and give them the maximum possible penalties from day 1 with zero tolerance.

 

[The Editor]

If they got ignored the soap dodgers would up their game and start encroaching on the airfield or similar.
Better just to arrest them and give them the maximum possible penalties from day 1 with zero tolerance.

And a total zero media coverage.

 

[zocalo]

If they got ignored the soap dodgers would up their game and start encroaching on the airfield or similar.
Better just to arrest them and give them the maximum possible penalties from day 1 with zero tolerance.

Assuming they don't immediately start endangering aircraft then there's no reason why the arrests can't start as soon as they start breaking the law while aircraft flights continue. If the do start encroaching on the airfield (which I'm sure they will, if flights continue) they will hopefully have been whittled down in number considerably and actual disruption to flights can be minimised.

And a total zero media coverage.

At least until any flights need to be cancelled, this too. Of course, that would mean the media would have to pass up on an opportunity for some click-bait ad-revenue generation, which isn't going to happen.

 

[gnirtS]

These idiots need the oxygen of publicity so if they're ignored they'll go away. Sadly the media and to some extent, the police are giving them an easy ride.
Best option whether its a threat or not, if they're flying in a restriction zone, arrest them immediately (and it'll take seconds to DF them), charge them with breaches of the ANO and go for the maximum penalties. And repeat.
If any flights are delayed or cancelled encourage the airport, airlines and passengers to take civil suits out against them as well.

Don't warn them, don't observe them, don't "let them do it" as its a protest. Treat them like any other normal person and arrest them immediately for any infringement. Sadly though the police have not taken this approach with them as of yet elsewhere.

Its also quite lucky they are all, without fail, stupid. If they wanted to cause utmost disruption they'd spread to the major airports in small groups nationwide at the same time and do it. THAT would be far harder to control.

 

[colinfowler]

They intend to fly toys at 6 feet height then phone the authorities and tell them.
By the time they arrive they will have run out of batteries or crashed into one of there own faces.
or got a ticket from a council warden for flying in a public park resulting in zero publicity.
Oh dear never mind. D@#k heads.

 

[gnirtS]

or got a ticket from a council warden for flying in a public park resulting in zero publicity.
Oh dear never mind. D@#k heads.

They'll make sure there's publicity. These people thrive on it.

I would like to see their bluff called - they're stupid enough to video everything they do so just ID and prosecute them all after the event (and to the maximum extent the law allows).
These idiots need crushing. The police so far have been FAR too lenient on them.

 

[colinfowler]

They have identified some locations and times. I live within LHR NFZ and intend attempting to photograph and video them.

 

[colinfowler]

They'll make sure there's publicity. These people thrive on it

Unfortunately your correct, if you google Heathrow pause the first news items are from the guardian and the independent. Nether are reliable and just compile reports and untrue news items, but people believe them.

 

[gnirtS]

Generally i find a good way to make life decisions is if the Guaradian (or readers) think its a bad idea, then its probably a good idea.

 

[EyeFlightDrone]

The real idiots are us for not caring about the environment. Airplanes have no real emission control and are polluting the world quickly as every rich person buys a jet. The drones are meaningless compared to the the real environmental crimes that the planet endures. Will all be dead from pollution, but will have great drone laws.

 

[gnirtS]

Care to back those utterly ludicrous planes about everyone dying with any actual science?
Proper, peer reviewed science. Not cherry picking and taking real world reports out of context that is.

 

[schmooit]

And a total zero media coverage.

Problem is with Insta and Twitter and the Tube and god knows how many other outlets they can create their own publicity, but completely agree if its not reported in the main stream news and not sensationalized by some idiot reporter making stupid click bait headlines in the online news papers (im thinking Daily Express here) then it carries no real weight.

I think it should be more than a large fine as this will be a perfect way for the gov to enforce the new drone rules that will clearly be being flouted, if its deemed they are potentially causing dangerous to airfield operations or flight operations where human life may be at risk then the pilots of said drones should be be imprisoned as well as fined, this would send the message to all pilots who do not wish to follow the rules that the punishment is heavy.

Seeing as they want media coverage the pilots would all be easy to find as they would need to be pretty near to fly them (we have all played with the baby toy drones and lets face it a slight breeze means they struggle so flying around and airfield is gonna be pretty hard work too!

Maybe us in the drone community could show and hand of force and turn up at the demo (infiltrate) and lend a hand to stop the pilots from taking flight and make that news that a major demonstration that could have endangered life was stopped by the UK drone community it would paint a different picture to the masses on how we are all responsible.

Just a thought

 

[colinfowler]

The real idiots are us for not caring about the environment. Airplanes have no real emission control and are polluting the world quickly as every rich person buys a jet. The drones are meaningless compared to the the real environmental crimes that the planet endures. Will all be dead from pollution, but will have great drone laws.

Funnily enough this is a drone forum and community discussing a drone news item.
Not an environmental discussion platform.
You could start your own thread in general discussions.