Where The Drones Are

I want to thank you for writing a balanced and fair assessment about the threat of drones to aviation (Where The Drones Are, October 2016). Your article is perhaps the first rational discussion related to the dangers of these little plastic radio-control models. I have been a pilot for the past 22 years, and owned a Cessna 172 for the past 12 years. I would certainly hate to hit one of these things.

Editorial Staff

Monday, October 24, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Drones pose a potential low-altitude threat to aircraft, particularly during takeoff and landing, but the risk is often mitigated by drone operators adhering to regulations and the distinct operating altitudes of personal aircraft.
While spin avoidance is paramount, especially since many spin accidents occur too low for recovery, formal spin training remains valuable for pilots to understand an aircraft's limits and prevent unintended spins.
The magazine's "Accident Briefs" column adopts terminology directly from NTSB preliminary reports for consistency, even if it can result in less concise phrasing or limited detail regarding accident specifics.

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I want to thank you for writing a balanced and fair assessment about the threat of drones to aviation (“Where The Drones Are,” October 2016). Your article is perhaps the first rational discussion related to the dangers of these little plastic radio-control models. I have been a pilot for the past 22 years, and owned a Cessna 172 for the past 12 years. I would certainly hate to hit one of these things.