I think it's worth to share this experience of the pilots in Australia and New Zealand. Re: CASA news letter.
"Failing to maintain good comms while flying your drone can lead to embarrassment. Maybe worse.
In November 2024, an unmanned aircraft operator certificated under Part 102 had Airways staff at Rotorua Airport on tenterhooks, as their drone hovered over Runway 18/36, halting departures, and affecting an inbound flight.
The operator had permission to fly in controlled airspace over the airport while they photographed a nearby housing development.
They had their phone with them as required by Air Traffic Control.
But it was on silent.
Aircraft prepared to depart Rotorua, but the drone was now in the way. Airways’ attempts to contact the drone operator went to voicemail.
Two aircraft on the apron, waiting to depart, had to delay their departure by half an hour.
An inbound aircraft was also affected, with the crew preparing to enter a holding pattern, before the drone was removed in time for the plane to land normally.
In a separate instance, five flights were delayed at Auckland Airport in late January this year as a drone flew into controlled airspace.
The Herald reported that police were notified but the CAA did not receive an occurrence report.
However, CAA data shows that between 2022 and November 2024 there were 10 occurrences of unmanned aircraft on or near runways."
"Failing to maintain good comms while flying your drone can lead to embarrassment. Maybe worse.
In November 2024, an unmanned aircraft operator certificated under Part 102 had Airways staff at Rotorua Airport on tenterhooks, as their drone hovered over Runway 18/36, halting departures, and affecting an inbound flight.
The operator had permission to fly in controlled airspace over the airport while they photographed a nearby housing development.
They had their phone with them as required by Air Traffic Control.
But it was on silent.
Aircraft prepared to depart Rotorua, but the drone was now in the way. Airways’ attempts to contact the drone operator went to voicemail.
Two aircraft on the apron, waiting to depart, had to delay their departure by half an hour.
An inbound aircraft was also affected, with the crew preparing to enter a holding pattern, before the drone was removed in time for the plane to land normally.
In a separate instance, five flights were delayed at Auckland Airport in late January this year as a drone flew into controlled airspace.
The Herald reported that police were notified but the CAA did not receive an occurrence report.
However, CAA data shows that between 2022 and November 2024 there were 10 occurrences of unmanned aircraft on or near runways."
