With drones becoming more popular for both work and fun, recent events show the dangers they can pose to planes and people.
Drone Danger: Lessons from the Super Scooper Incident
By Ryan Wallace, Ed.D.
In January, a drone collided with a Canadair CL-415 plane fighting fires in LA. The crash damaged the plane’s wing, keeping it from helping with the Palisades fire. This plane is crucial in firefighting because it drops lots of water quickly and refills fast from lakes.
Fighting the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires was tough without this plane. These fires forced many people to leave their homes and destroyed thousands of buildings. We can’t measure the true loss caused by the plane being out of action.
People might wonder how things could change if drones weren’t causing these problems.
This isn’t the first time drones have made wildfire fights harder. Earlier in 2024, drones stopped aerial efforts at the Ironwood Fire in Arizona. The U.S. Forest Service even started a campaign saying, “If you fly, we can’t.” There are over 59 reported airspace problems involving drones, as per SAFECOM, and the FAA has logged 18,891 drone sightings since 2014. NASA’s safety database also shows over 800 incidents with drones.
The sheer number of drones is part of the problem. In 2024, the FAA estimated there were almost 2.8 million small drones, far outnumbering other aircraft.
- Recreational drones: 1.83 million
- Commercial drones: 951,000
Drone operators fly frequently. A study at DFW Airport found nearly 30,000 drones flew over 480,000 times in three years, aligning with the FAA’s forecast.
Spotting drones is hard. Studies by Oklahoma State University and Embry-Riddle show even when pilots know a drone is around, it’s tricky to see, especially during busy times like landing or at night.
Some drone incidents might not be reported. A 2023 study discovered 25 near collisions that weren’t officially reported.
The FAA tried to make drones more visible with Remote Identification (RID), an electronic ID system. But operators faced issues with RID availability, leading the FAA to delay enforcement. A GAO report highlighted problems like signal range and law enforcement access to drone records.
DJI, a big drone maker, announced changes in its geofencing system that could let operators ignore warnings about flying in restricted areas, increasing risks.
Another incident involved a drone show accident hurting a child, raising more concerns about drone safety.
Maybe it’s time to rethink how we keep everyone safe from drones. Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Dr. Ryan Wallace is an expert at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, focusing on drone safety and policy. He advises the FAA and has extensive experience in aviation.
