2019082
|
14 Apr 19
1215
|
Ventus
(Civ Gld)
|
Drone
|
5239N 00218W
2nm NW Cosford
3800ft
|
London FIR
(G)
|
The Ventus pilot reports that the weather was good, with clear
visibility. The incident occurred
about 1nm NW of junction 3 of the M54.
He noticed a small object ahead and slightly right of centre, it
appeared to be hovering. As he closed in, he suddenly realised it was a large
black drone directly in front of him at the same altitude. His immediate reaction was to turn to
port. He glanced right to observe it
pass the starboard wingtip. He
immediately transmitted on the Cosford frequency to warn others of its
presence. After the incident he returned to Cosford because he was feeling
shaken.
Reported Separation: 0ft V/ NK H Reported Risk of Collision: High |
The drone was being flown
above the maximum permitted height of 400ft such that it was
endangering other aircraft at that location.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 1, 2, 4, 6
Risk: The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account
of the incident portrayed a situation where
providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of
collision had existed. |
A
|
2019084
|
1 May 19
1317
|
BE76
(Civ FW)
|
Drone
|
5123N 00107W
6nm SW Reading
2200ft
|
London FIR
(G)
|
The BE76 pilot reports that whilst in straight and level cruise he
saw an object directly ahead at a range of about 200m and slightly below. At first,
he thought it was a bird and expected it to veer off as birds usually do when
they become aware of an approaching aircraft. However, he observed that the
object maintained its course and as he drew closer he realised it was a large
quadcopter drone. He distinctly saw the rotors contained within their rotor
rings and that the central body was dark and mottled in colour and appeared
to be camouflaged. The drone appeared to maintain a steady course and height.
He was unable to ascertain its speed. The pilot stated that there was no
opportunity to take avoiding action and that the risk of collision was very, very
high and that he had been very frightened. He noted that had he been a little
lower or the drone a little higher it would have impacted directly on to the
nose or windscreen of the aircraft.
Reported Separation: 25ft V/ 0m H Reported Risk of Collision: Very High |
The drone was being flown
above the maximum permitted height of 400ft such that it was
endangering other aircraft at that location.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 1, 2, 4, 6
Risk: The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account
of the incident portrayed a situation where
providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of
collision had existed. |
A
|
2019086
|
1 May 19
1555
|
PA28
(Civ FW)
|
Drone
|
5138N 00036E
South Woodham Ferrers VRP
2000ft
|
Southend CTA
(D)
|
The PA28 pilot reports that he saw a drone off his starboard wing,
his first thought was that it was a bird, but he was able to maintain visual
contact with it by looking back over his shoulder through the rear window and
he was able to see the profile was that of a 4 rotor drone, there were
definitely no wing movements and it was not the profile of a bird. He first
reported it as 400m away to ATC, but on reflection thought that it was closer
than that, about 100m. His risk assessment was taking into consideration that
it was not in conflict with his flight path and no avoiding action was taken.
Reported Separation: 0ft V/ 100m H Reported Risk of Collision: None
The Southend Controller reports that the PA28 was on a local flight and was transiting
Southend’s CAS to the NE at 2000ft.
when in the vicinity of Woodham Ferrers VRP he reported seeing a drone
pass down his left-hand side at a distance of 0.25nm at a similar level. |
The drone was being flown
above the maximum permitted height of 400ft and within controlled
airspace such that it was endangering other aircraft at that location.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Risk: The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account
of the incident portrayed a situation where
although safety had been reduced, there had been no risk of collision. |
C
|
2019088
|
4 May 19
1055
|
B787
(CAT)
|
Drone
|
5128N 00013W
7.5nm E Heathrow
2500ft
|
London CTR
(D)
|
The B787 pilot reports being at 7.5nm final approach for RW27R when
a drone was observed on their right at approximately 1.5nm. It was slightly
below and moving towards their position, but their flight paths were
diverging so no avoiding action was necessary. The drone was medium sized and
had multiple rotors.
Reported Separation: 500ft V/1.5nm H Reported Risk of Collision: None
The Heathrow Controller reports that when on 7nm final, the B787 pilot
reported a drone to the right-hand side. |
The drone was being flown
above the maximum permitted height of 400ft and within controlled
airspace such that it was endangering other aircraft at that location.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Risk: The Board noted the pilots estimate of range seemed
at variance with his being able to identify the drone as having multiple
rotors. They concluded that the pilot
had probably overestimated the range. Notwithstanding, they considered that
the pilot’s overall account of the incident portrayed a situation where
although safety had been reduced, there had been no risk of collision. |
C
|
2019090
|
4 May 19
1715
|
A319
(CAT)
|
Unk Obj
|
5052N 00004E
7nm NW Seaford
9500ft
|
Worthing CTA
(A)
|
The A319 pilot reports that he was climbing through FL93 for FL120
when both pilots spotted a drone coming towards them. There was no time to take avoiding action
and it passed down the left-hand side of the aircraft. The drone was purple/black
in colour.
Reported Separation: 100ft V/ <1nm H Reported Risk of Collision: High |
The Board members considered that the altitude of the
encounter and the pilot’s description was such that they could not
definitively determine the nature of the object.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 4, 5
Risk: The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account
of the incident portrayed a situation where
although safety had been reduced, there had been no risk of collision. |
C
|
2019091
|
5 May 19
1400
|
A320
(CAT)
|
Unk Obj
|
5102N 00000W
8nm SE Crawley
FL060
|
London TMA
(A)
|
The A320 pilot reports that on departure from Gatwick RW08R, whilst
in the climb, a totally white object resembling a shoebox sized cube with a round
ball on top passed down the left-hand side, slightly above and within 50m of the
aircraft. The object appeared to be in level flight.
Reported Separation: 100ft V/50m H Reported Risk of Collision: None |
The Board noted that this incident occurred in the
vicinity of the Met Office site at Herstmonceux, however, the Met Office
confirmed that there were no Met balloons airborne in that area at that time
and date. The Board were therefore not able to ascertain the nature of the
object.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 4, 5
Risk: The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account
of the incident portrayed a situation where
safety had been much reduced below the norm to the extent that safety had
not been assured. |
B
|
2019093
|
4 May 19
1745
|
B777
(CAT)
|
Drone
|
5119N 00023W
Ockham
6000ft
|
London TMA
(A)
|
The B777 pilot reports descending downwind for RW27L at Heathrow, passing
7000ft, when a drone was sighted momentarily, which passed directly
underneath the aircraft, about 1000ft below. The sighting was during a period
of high workload for both flight crew and ATC who were responding to a
succession of reports of wind shear on finals at the time. Only the FO saw
the drone but it was a positive identification, estimated to be of a large
size. The incident was reported to ATC.
Reported Separation: 1000ft V/ 0m H Reported Risk of Collision: Not reported |
The drone was being flown
above the maximum permitted height of 400ft and within controlled
airspace such that it was endangering other aircraft at that location.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Risk: The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account
of the incident portrayed a situation where
although safety had been reduced, there had been no risk of collision. |
C
|
2019094
|
7 May 19
0905
|
B787
(CAT)
|
Drone
|
5127N 00021W
Heathrow
1000ft
|
London CTR
(D)
|
The B787 pilot reports that he was on final for RW27L, when he saw
a white drone to the right of the aircraft and slightly below. It was operating in the approach at 2.8 DME
between RW27L and RW27R at 1000ft, they did not take avoiding action as it
was of no immediate threat to their final approach. Although it wasn’t close
enough to hit them, they considered it to be a dangerous place to operate and
a gust of wind could have blown it into the path of the aircraft.
Reported Separation: Not reported Reported Risk of Collision: High |
The drone was being flown
above the maximum permitted height of 400ft and within the lateral and
vertical limits of an FRZ such that it was endangering other
aircraft at that location.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Risk: The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account
of the incident portrayed a situation where
although safety had been reduced, there had been no risk of collision. |
C
|
2019095
|
27 Apr 19
1325
|
A319
(CAT)
|
Unk Obj
|
5100N 00006E
Uckfield
5600ft
|
London TMA
(A)
|
The A319 pilot reports approaching the MAY VOR from the south under
radar vectors when, during a tum, he clearly saw a grey and red or orange ‘fast
object’ flying in the opposite direction, to their left, in straight flight.
The visual contact lasted for about 4 or 5 seconds as they were in the tum. He
thought that the drone made a tum to his right a few seconds after they saw
it.
Reported Separation: 200ft V/100m H Reported Risk of Collision: Medium |
The Board members considered that the altitude of the
encounter and the pilot’s description was such that they could not
definitively determine the nature of the object.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 4, 5
Risk: The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account
of the incident portrayed a situation where
although safety had been reduced, there had been no risk of collision. |
C
|
2019098
|
28 Apr 19
1240
|
A319
(CAT)
|
Unk Obj
|
5109N 00007E
12nm E Gatwick
FL117
|
London TMA
(A)
|
The A319 pilot reports that after climbing out from Gatwick the PF
noticed a drone a few seconds after breaking cloud. Cloud tops were 7500ft. It passed below them from the centre of the
aircraft and under the right-hand wing, around 30-50ft below. It was contrasted against the clouds and
appeared dark green in colour with a white light on top and was about 2ft
long. Its speed was hard to determine,
it may have been hovering. The PM did not see it.
Reported Separation: 50ft V/0m H Reported Risk of Collision: High |
The Board members considered that the altitude of the
encounter and the pilot’s description was such that they could not
definitively determine the nature of the object. Although the pilot had
reported seeing a white light on top of the object, members wondered if this
could have been a reflection from the top surface.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 4, 5
Risk: The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account
of the incident portrayed a situation where
providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of
collision had existed. |
A
|
2019103
|
14 May 19
1700
|
A320
(CAT)
|
Drone
|
5555N 00301W
~8nm ESE Edinburgh
6800ft
|
Scottish TMA
(D)
|
The A320 pilot reports under radar vectors for the ILS to RW24. It
was a completely clear day with excellent visibility. As the aircraft was descending
in a right-hand orbit and on an approximate heading of southwest to west, a
black ‘hobby drone’ was seen by the First Officer (PM) passing along the
right side of the aircraft. No avoiding action was required and a report was made
to the Edinburgh approach radar controller who further reported the event to
other aircraft following.
Reported Separation: 200ft V/¼nm H Reported Risk of Collision: Medium |
The drone was being flown
above the maximum permitted height of 400ft and within controlled
airspace such that it was endangering other aircraft at that location.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Risk: The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account
of the incident portrayed a situation where
although safety had been reduced, there had been no risk of collision. |
C
|
2019114
|
19 May 19
|
A320
(CAT)
|
Drone
|
5110N 00003W
Lingfield
3000ft
|
London TMA
(A)
|
The A320 pilot reports that on departure from Gatwick, in a left
turn, the First Officer sighted a small drone fly past the nose and down the
left-hand side of the aircraft. The Captain then sighted the drone miss the
port wingtip by about 20ft. It was described as approximately a meter in
length and black in colour with blue markings. The sighting was reported to
ATC.
Reported Separation: 0ft V/20ft H Reported Risk of Collision: Not reported |
The drone was being flown
above the maximum permitted height of 400ft and within controlled
airspace such that it was endangering other aircraft at that location.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Risk: The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account
of the incident portrayed a situation where
providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of
collision had existed. |
A
|