A drone was the cause of Heathrow Airport’s runway closure at the weekend. It closed for several minutes after the drone was spotted in the airspace of Britain’s busiest airport.
A Heathrow spokesperson said it did not cause significant disruption but has called the use of the drone “irresponsible and illegal”.
One passenger, British Olympic Snowboarder Aimee Fuller, was delayed.
She was waiting for her flight to take off when an unusual announcement was made:
The Heathrow spokesperson continued: “The unauthorised use of unmanned aerial vehicles in proximity to an airfield is both irresponsible and illegal.
“Heathrow’s top priority is the safety of our passengers and colleagues.
“The Civil Aviation Authority recently published revised guidelines on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and we will continue to work with them and other partners to ensure that any violation of airspace rules is fully prosecuted.”
As the gadgets are becoming ever popular for recreational use the Civil Aviation Authority has launched an information campaign for users.
It fears people do not appreciate the risks.
The campaign reads: “Unmanned aircraft are generally fitted with cameras, unlike traditional remote controlled model aircraft which have been used by enthusiasts for many years.
“As such drones are likely to be operated in a way that may pose a greater risk to the general public and other aircraft.
“Unlike manned or model aircraft there are no established operating guidelines so operators may not be aware of the potential dangers or indeed the responsibility they have towards avoiding collisions.
“Permission to operate a small unmanned aircraft systems for ‘aerial work’ is required from the Civil Aviation Authority.”
Source: Eagle Radio