Airprox Analysis for UAV etc 2016 to Date

[SnoozeDoggyDog]

I am quite surprised or have missed where someone has mentioned it in the thread already given the experience on this forum ...

I thought the definition of a "drone" was to be able to act autonomously. So your regular FPV uav is not a drone.

[English Turbines]

 I think the expression "Drone" was used during Wartime for prop driven Target "Drones".....Used as Gunnery practice targets, and flown by remote control by a Pilot on the deck of the ship.
  In those days, the remote control link would have had valves in it......Although I think even back then, the giro stabiliser had been invented...
  The V2 Rocket used giro stabilised fins for guidance and stability.....It didnt have RTL though......lol.

     :vulture:

[electrotor]

A further prompt reply from the Airproxboard. I must admit to being rather saddened that they quite consciously dumb down the terminology for the general public/press. More fodder for the ignorant I suppose.
The meaning of words changes over time, eg wicked, gay, naughty, etc. Drone has many meanings including pilotless aircraft, sound and a type of person and it seems like we are going to be stuck with this vague terminology for a while. There must be something catchier than drone or FPV we can start educating people with, but that would be for a new thread.

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We tend to use the word drone largely because it is the popular vocabulary but also because we don't always get a full description of the air system from reporting pilots.  It can vary from simply describing things as 'drones', 'quadcopter', 'uncertain how many rotors', 'squashed disc-shaped' and so on.  'Drone' is simply employed to indicate an unmanned vehicle.  You are correct, we rarely get a report about whether the UAS has any surveillance equipment on it or not, which as you are aware make a difference as to which rules apply.  However, from time-to-time a pilot has reported seeing a camera. We started out using UAS for 'Unmanned Air System' but that then sounded too technical for the general public/press so we have defaulted to drones unless we have a specific description of 'model glider' or  'fixed-wing' the like when we use that.


Regards

Suzanne Sinclair

Suzanne Sinclair
UK Airprox Board
Inspector

[Lola]

Are google cars are going to be called drones?

[FPVSteve]

sounded too technical for the general public/press

How about you just stick to the facts and let the general public figure it out for themselves - this is the problem, sugar-coating everything to appeal to everyone. It's the equivalent of Chinese whispers.

Detailed facts become half-truths, then exaggerations, then outright lies, then pictures of celebrities holding a quadcopter in the bath with it tangled in their perfect hair.