Rotorcraft
UAVs: Low-Altitude Dangers
Pilots are concerned about the increasing number of encounters with UAVs.
The FAA says it has received reports of an average of 25 unmanned aircraft or model sightings a month, and operators have expressed concerned about the dangers the unmanned aircraft pose.
The FAA says it has received reports of an average of 25 unmanned aircraft or model sightings a month, and operators have expressed concerned about the dangers the unmanned aircraft pose.

On July 11 last year, a Metro Aviation Airbus Helicopters EC135 was cruising at about 2,800 feet near Baton Rouge, La., when the pilot noticed flashing lights on the horizon. The lights appeared to belong to an aircraft, so the pilot watched them to maintain visual separation. “Although I was flight following with New Orleans approach, they had not given me any traffic advisories of other aircraft in the area,” the pilot reported. The approach controller was not obligated to give such advisories since the helicopter was VFR in Class E airspace.