The Aviation Safety Network gathers data on complaints or reports by manned aircraft regarding sightings or misses between UAS and manned airplanes. Since the database has been recorded there have been 2,750 reports filed. This is not a comprehensive listing and does not contain many reports from the FAA after 2017.
Some of them are like the examples below.
- The crew of a USCG MH-65 Dolphin helicopter were conducting low-level training in the area of the airport when they had to suddenly evade a recreational drone. At an altitude if 300 feet the crew at first thought that they were seeing a bird, when they came within 50 feet of impacting the drone.
- C130 WAS ON AN 8 MILE FINAL FOR RWY 1 AT SAV AT 1700 FT WHEN HE SAW A QUAD UAS AND HAD TO DESCEND AND TURN RIGHT TO AVOID THE IMPACT.
- The A319 pilot reports that on climb-out from Heathrow, passing 4800ft a medium-sized, white drone passed directly overhead, with an estimated separation of 20ft. There was no time for the flight path to be altered.
- A Toronto Airways Cessna 172S (C-FGAR) on a flight from Toronto/Oshawa Executive, ON (CYOO) and landing at Toronto/Oshawa Executive, ON (CYOO) reported an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) operating above circuit altitude (1500′ above sea level [ASL]) approximately 0.5NM north-east of CYOO.
- Aerolineas Argentinas flight AR1283 reportedly suffered a drone strike while approaching Buenos Aires-Jorge Newbery Airport, Argentina. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 (LV-FQZ), operated on a scheduled service from Santiago, Chile. It was approaching runway 13 at the time of the occurrence. An Argentine aviation blog, desdeelpatioblog.com, stated that the aircraft struck a drone. Photos of fan blades, supposedly of LV-FQZ, show damage to the tips of several blades.
- The A321 pilot reports on approach to RW27L at Heathrow when the crew saw a 3 or 4 engine white drone pass over the FO’s window at a range of about 5ft. The crew considered that the drone passed close enough that it must have collided with the tail. No tangible evidence of collision could be found after landing by engineering staff and the aircraft was released back into service.
- An Air Canada flight (ACA105) reported that they had overflown a drone at approximately 3NM final Runway 26R. Arrivals on Runway 26R were suspended for 10 minutes.
- An Air Canada Airbus A330-343 (C-GHKX/ACA983) on a flight from Montego Bay, Jamaica (MKJS) to Toronto/Lester B. Pearson Int’l, ON (CYYZ) reported almost hitting an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) descending through 3300 feet while turning base leg for Runway 06L.
- An Airsprint Embraer EMB-545 (ASP820) on a flight from Montreal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau Int’l, QC (CYUL) to Toronto/Lester B. Pearson Int’l, ON (CYYZ) on final approach to Runway 06L under flew an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) by 50 to 100 feet. ASP820 landed Runway 06L at 1956Z. No operational impact. Police were advised.
- B738 REPORTED A BLACK FOUR ROTOR DRONE OFF HIS LEFT HAND SIDE WHILE WESTBOUND TO DFW FROM THE BYP CORNER POST. PILOT REPORTED THE DRONE OFF HIS LEFT SIDE LEAVING 6,500 FEET AND STATED THAT IT LOOKED TO BE 100 YARDS FROM THE AIRCRAFT.
- B206 REPORTED UAS ACTIVITY INVOF OF HIS AIRCRAFT WITHIN 50FT. HE HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO MISS UAS. NUMEROUS REPORTS AFTER INCIDENT FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 5-10 MINUTES.
This just goes to show why we all need to help educate and mentor all UAS pilots to not fly without regard for the public and aircraft safety.