Hobbyist drone fliers in Dubai seem to be proving that common sense is not so common after all. Last week, the Dubai airport’s clockwork rhythm was disrupted twice within a day as a hobbyist’s drone entered its airspace. Fifty-five minutes in total were lost, inconveniencing authorities and passengers, and putting the lives of fliers at risk as the Dubai airport authorities were forced to take precautionary measures in the face of this thoughtless act. This is the third in a series of drone-related disruptions at the Dubai airport in recent times.
Flying drones, a relatively new pastime in the emirate, comes with its own set of rules as these devices use a range of frequencies that could potentially interfere with avionics. The Dubai airport authorities stipulate a clear zone of eight nautical miles (1 nautical mile is approximately 1.8 kilometres) around an airport and with nature already burdening airports with the danger of bird hits, man would do well not to add to the problem. Let us hope enthusiasts would get the message and pick safer spots to indulge in their pastime.
