https://www.dailybreeze.com/2025/01/09/firefighting-aircraft-crashes-into-drone-flying-illegally-above-palisades-fire-faa-says/

Sadly this was obviously coming. Skies are going to be literally full of drones, and their controllers do not care about rules. Catch me if you can!

Remember that the culprit of the first collision in the U.S. was identified because a part of the drone stuck in the aircraft was serialized. Police were able to find the seller, and obtain information on the buyer. But they didn't track the control unit operationally as the collision happened (e.g. through witnesses).

As the technology developed for Ukraine trickles down to consumers, we'll see drones operating far beyond the line of sight.

There may be some hope in low numbers of lasering the pilots in recent couple of years. Perhaps vast majority of drone operators will remain law-abiding. But the incentives are different for them. Imagine all the clicks you can get by filming massive fires.

Here's a previous post about a collision of Cirrus jet with a drone well within Class C for Austin KAUS: https://mu.zaitcev.nu/notice/AnVtubC7ZEAHPxPx0C

#drones #aviation