'A serious risk of collision': Passenger jet comes within 20FT of being hit by drone
A PASSENGER jet came within 20ft of being hit by a drone as it came in to land at Britain's busiest airport, air investigators have revealed.
The A320, which can carry 180 passengers, was 700ft from landing when its pilot saw a small radio-controlled helicopter pass over a wing.
The report by the The UK Airprox Board gave the July 22 incident its highest rating - an A - which means there was "a serious risk of collision".
Its report raises new fears about remote controlled planes which are selling at the rate of 2,000 a month and are set to be one of this year's hit Christmas presents.
The UKAB said: "The pilot stated that a small black object was seen to the left of the aircraft as they passed 700ft in the descent, which passed about 20ft over the wing.
"It appeared to be a small radio-controlled helicopter.
"The object did not strike his aircraft and he made a normal landing but it was a distraction during a critical phase of flight.
"ATC was informed of the object's presence and following aircraft were notified."
The UKAB said that despite extensive efforts it had not been able to trace the owner of the helicopter.
It stated: "The Board members were satisfied that the A320 crew had seen a model helicopter and were of the unanimous opinion that the operator of the model had chosen to fly it in an entirely inappropriate location.
"That the dangers associated with flying such a model in close proximity to a Commercial Air Transport aircraft in the final stages of landing were not self-evident was a cause for considerable concern."
The UKAB said air navigation rules ban the flying of unmanned aircraft near airports or above 400ft.
And the operator is required to maintain direct visual contact with it at all times.
The Air Navigation Order 2009 states: "A person must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property."
It appeared to be a small radio-controlled helicopter
Earlier this year, airline pilots' union Balpa demanded better protection for the public against the risks of drones.
It wants drones, officially known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), which share airspace with passenger and freight airliners to meet the same safety standards as piloted aircraft. It includes only being flown by operators with pilot-equivalent training.
Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said: "The UK should become a 'safe drone zone' so we can make the most of the major business and leisure opportunities offered by remotely piloted aircraft, while protecting passengers, pilots and residents.
"The technology is developing quickly and we could see remote aircraft the same size as a Boeing 737 being operated commercially in our skies within 10 years."
Research carried out by intelligence experts for the University of Birmingham Policy Commission Report published in October warned of the misuse of drones.
The commission called for "urgent" measures to safeguard British airspace to cope with civil and commercial use, which is expected to be more widespread by 2035.
The report said the "hazards presented by inadvertent or accidental misuse of RPAS, or the consequences of their malfunctioning, are becoming better understood".
It added that small commercial aircraft, including for taking photographs, are already "clearly being flown" and often in breach of the rules.
