Drone temporarily closes Leeds Bradford Airport

Reports of drone closes Leeds Bradford Airport
View attachment 13792
Flights temporarily suspended at Leeds Brtadford Airport due to reported drone activity close to the final approach to the airport.

1400
The airport is closed as a drone has been spotted flying in the Horsforth area on a 1 mile final for 32
All flight currently suspended

 

[Aviador]

Drone airborne again near Westfield Junior school. 19:19

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

When this thread come up it filled me with dread! I hope this was licensed drone but i doubt it. With the time of year it is - i suspect it could of been. Filming for bonfire events.

 

[LBA4EVER]

drone over westfield junior school must be 2 miles from any flightpath?

 

[Len Fish]

From the CAA website:
Flight restrictions around aerodromes
Flights of unmanned aircraft around airfields or airports that are designated as ‘protected aerodromes’ are tightly restricted. Unmanned aircraft of any size must not be flown within the Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) of a protected aerodrome, without appropriate permission.

The Flight Restriction Zone consists of the following three elements:

- The Aerodrome Traffic Zone: A 2 or 2.5 nautical mile radius ‘cylinder’ around the aerodrome, extending 2000 ft above ground level, centred on the longest runway.

- Runway Protection Zones: A rectangle extending 5Km from the threshold of the runway away from the aerodrome, along the extended runway centreline, and 500m either side- also to a height of 2000 ft above ground level.

- Additional Zones: In the case where the 1Km boundary of an aerodrome extends beyond the Aerodrome traffic zone, and so would not be protected by it, the flight restriction zone will include a ‘bump’ (the airfield boundary + 1KM) to protect this part of the aerodrome.

 

[LBA4EVER]

thanks for the info len, answers my question.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I fly r/c models in (eastern) Otley and I believe these are subject to the same controls. I just hope I am not within the 2/2.5 mile radius!

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Thankfully according to this weekends Sunday Times we now can locate the operators position of a drone, which assuming the police resource available, should in the future sort this issue.
Even if controlled through different IP addresses, the origination computer can be located, similar software now being used in financial fraud in my opinion cases, where money moved in seconds through different accounts.

 

[Aviador]

Thanks guys, the purpose of my post yesterday was so if the craft was flying illegally and had it become a nuisance the powers that be would know where to look. The craft was fully illuminated with anti collision lights on it. It was difficult to determine it's height.

I don't know how others feel about it but I think even if these things are flying outside exclusion zones it would be courteous to give ATC a quick call. At least then they could have an exact location of where a pilot of one of these things is intending to fly his devise?

 

[Tarn Spotter]

See the CAA has announced that you will need a three year licence costing £9 if you wish to fly your drone, you will need to take a test, not available to under 13's.
I think the licence need is if your drone exceeds a certain spec.

 

[White Heather]

I think it is based on the weight of the drone isn't it?

 

[Dave 1959]

See the CAA has announced that you will need a three year licence costing £9 if you wish to fly your drone, you will need to take a test, not available to under 13's.
I think the licence need is if your drone exceeds a certain spec.

And I wonder how many people will bother with that?(or am I getting cynical in my old age.....)

 

[Len Fish]

Should imagine that the type of person that ignores the law, safety and flies their drone near airports is the same type who won’t bother with any licensing requirements.