Physical contact of an airplane with any other flying object during its flight can be fatal for both the machine and its crew. Most common airborne encounters happen during landings or take offs with bird flocks. However, pilots are prepared for these situations and airfields equipped with means to mitigate the probability or consequences of the collision.
Unfortunately, the frequency of incidents involving drones flying near or even inside the secured airport zones is on the rise. Increasing availability of commercial drones makes them ideal toy for recreational users and handy tool for professionals from various industries. But not all of them are aware of the harm they can cause by drone misuse.
Airfields all across the globe are reporting increase in the number of drone-related incidents. Just a few weeks ago, the Prague airport diverted several flights in a reaction to drone presence in close proximity to the runways. Financial damages arising from diverted flights are the better case in comparison to engine failure that can easily happen if a drone gets ingested in airplane engine. Thanks to their small reflective surfaces, conventional radars are unable to detect drones and it is a little miracle that this security leak has not been exploited yet.
