A recent nationwide analysis of drone activity concluded that airports, heliports, and residential neighborhoods may be “hot spots” where the risk of midair collisions between UAVs and crewed aircraft is elevated.
Researchers at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research found that drone activity in and around congested airspace may be higher than previously thought. They also discovered that a “sizable number” of drone pilots fly above the FAA-mandated 400-foot ceiling for small uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS)—and, potentially, without authorization.
