Flight headed for Sky Harbor has close call with drone
PHOENIX — A drone came within 100 feet of an American Airlines flight headed for Sky Harbor Airport, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
American Airlines Flight 605 was on approach to Sky Harbor Airport at 7,000 feet when the co-pilot saw the drone. He observed what appeared to be a black and yellow, three-prop Unmanned Arial System (UAS). The UAS was about 100 feet below the nose of the aircraft, but the pilot did not have to make any adjustments to the approach.
The Phoenix Police Airport Bureau officers spoke with the flight crew and there was no opportunity for follow up in the area of the sighting.
Use of drones is a growing concern among the Phoenix Police Department, the city of Phoenix, and the FAA.
If you are not aware of what the responsibilities are of using a UAS (drone) or need a refresher, please refer to this statement from the FAA:
A UAS is an “aircraft” as defined in the FAA’s authorizing statutes and is therefore subject to regulation by the FAA. An “aircraft” as “any contrivance invented, used, or designed to navigate or fly in the air.” The FAA’s regulations similarly define an “aircraft” as “a device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air.” Because an unmanned aircraft is a contrivance/device that is invented, used, and designed to fly in the air, it meets the definition of “aircraft.” The FAA has regulations that apply to the operation of all aircraft, whether manned or unmanned, and irrespective of the altitude at which the aircraft is operating. For example, FAA Regulations prohibits any person from operating an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.
