Drones - This thing needs to be sorted...

Photo by Skyler Smith on Unsplash

I recently read an article on the issue of drones causing delays at Gatwick. Then read a piece about the FAA requiring registration marks on the outside of the drones to make them more easily identifiable.

I just wanted to think about this and give you my unfiltered thoughts.

Disclosure first though. I have a drone, a DJI Mavic. I'm planning on providing a professional "charged for" service and have already aired my views about people being stupid with drones.

The idea of having a registration mark on the outside of a drone is laudable, but it isn't going to work to stop malicious use of a drone. It will help stop those who aren't familiar with the risks of flying a drone correctly. They will be able to be tracked and punished, fined, held up to ridicule (delete where appropriate). But it will not stop those who wish to cause serious harm on purpose. Here's why...

Terrorists.

If I were a terrorist, I would learn how to build a drone, a big one, that could carry a payload (6kg). It would be black, have a long range with no need to return to me and it would do the job just right. You see, the FAA and other official organisations are thinking of Drones as planes. It's not so easy to do the same thing these days with a plane. That sounds like a glib comment, and it isn't. I can still recall the terror I felt on the day the twin towers were attacked and the subsequent effects and massive loss of life.

You only have to look on the web and you can find more than enough information. For example: Link

Drones, are not planes. Putting a registration mark on them will only deter the "stupid" flyers and punish the ignorant  ones.

What is the solution? - That is the question. The problem is clear, you can make a "bad drone", you can be a "bad pilot". But the technology to stop them is either in the hands of the military, and therefore not commercially available or simply is too disruptive to the facilities to protect themselves without causing major disruptions or spiralling costs.

This is an underlying problem for governments in general. The law that is designed to protect us, is not playing catchup quick enough. You only have to look at the likes of social networks to understand that!

Mandatory registration of all drones and mandatory "driving licences" would possibly reduce or stop the stupid pilots, but it would not stop those wishing to do harm.  I am all for the registration and policing of everyday drones, but this will not give the peace of mind, safety, or security that is needed...

Petapixel Article