Dubai Airports Working On Drone Tracking Device

Dubai Airport is working on a system to detect and track drones following a series of  incursions that have upset flights at its airport.

The increasing use of drones for commercial as well as leisure purposes globally has led to a rise in the number of near-misses with aircraft and infringements into no-fly zones, Reuters reported today.

Drones are being increasingly used for commercial as well as for leisure. This has led to many instances of near-misses with aircraft. There also have been occasions of infringements into no-fly zones, prompting their use to be better regulated.

On October 29, operations at the busiest airport for international passengers were pulled up, leading to delay of about 40 flights.

"We have to think of ways to control it instantly as it was the third time they had been temporarily stopped in four months because of drones," Dubai Airports Chief Executive Paul Griffiths said to Reuters.

“We cannot have closing down often caused by infringements of drones in controlled airspace.” Griffiths said.

Dubai Airports, which also oversees Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport, is conducting trials to create a tracking system to detect the real-time location of any nearby drone and the radio frequency on which it is being operated.

Apart from Dubai, various countries, regions around the world are struggling to control the drone misuse.

In the US, rules for commercial drone usage were published on Aug. 29 according to which hobbyists must register crafts with the Federal Aviation Administration since December 2015.

Similarly, in September, aviation associations representing airlines, pilots and airports across Europe called for mandatory registration and training of drone users, following a number of near-misses.

UAE has laws governing drone use that bans flying vehicles in a prohibited area, including the country’s civil airports and civil installations.

Those caught breaking the drone law be imprisioned for three years with fine up to 100,000 dirhams ($27,228).