2021002
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3 Jan 21
1316
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A319
(CAT)
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Drone
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5138N 00020W
Overhead Elstree
6000ft
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London TMA
(A)
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The A319 pilot reports departing Heathrow RW09R on an ULTIB1B
departure. When near ULTIB and level at 6000ft, the Captain sighted a drone
approximately 500m away in the 11 o’clock position and around 300ft below.
The drone was white in colour, approximately 1m diameter and with green and
red lights. It passed directly underneath their aircraft.
Reported Separation: 300ft V/0m H Reported Risk of Collision: NR
The
NW Departures controller reports
that the pilot reported the drone sighting to them and that they subsequently
passed the reported position to the Heathrow Approach controller for passing
to other aircraft in the vicinity.
The
NATS Safety Investigation found that
there were no associated primary or secondary contacts visible on radar at
the approximate time of the event.
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In the Board’s opinion the reported altitude and/or
description of the object were sufficient to indicate that it could have been
a drone.
Applicable
Contributory Factors: 1, 2, 3, 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
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