Gatwick

[Lizzie Zoom]

This may have something to do with the protests against Gatwick expansion. Maybe some one, or group of nutters, have decided to take direct action.

Obviously this is one of a number of possibilities.  Whoever they are they must be imprisoned for longer than the present maximum sentence of 5 years.  They will get caught as I am sure all levels of the security services are on this one.

[Varche]

They are taking their time 

[TheBoy]

They will get caught as I am sure all levels of the security services are on this one.

Only if they are very stupid.

[Lizzie Zoom]

They will get caught as I am sure all levels of the security services are on this one.

Only if they are very stupid.

I think TB they have proved to be that already.  A person can muck around in the everyday sense with authority, but to take on all the agencies, including I am sure MI5 as this has become a national security issue, is just plain dumb. If that is not the case and it IS perhaps more sinister, like a foreign involvement (I will let Rod assess the rest!) then this incident will not be the end of the matter.  Apart from the embarrassment caused to our nation, and the distress caused to so many passengers, what is the financial cost of this to our country and it's industry?

So if this is down to one or two nutters they have been very stupid.

[biggriffin]

Is flying another drone at it(kamaksai) drone. Or is that to easy. Or an rc plane.

[TheBoy]

Oh, yes, the people behind it are incredibly irresponsible. And stupid in certain regards. And need stringing up/shot/culled/etc

But it would be reasonably easy to evade the authorities, especially as the authorities (clearly) are too stupid to do anything about it.  But, in their defence, they are civil servants. Even me - the stupid kid from the local comprehensive - could run rings round them for ages, and keep the airport closed.  The only effective counter measure is to bring each device down, but I could just send up another, and another, and another, and so on.


I doubt its a foreign power behind it. Because you'd hit multiple airports, particularly Heathrow. So that leaves a Swampy type tree hugger, or somebody who plans on 15 mins of fame using a fake social media account.  I'm leaning towards the latter, but who knows, and I suspect we will never find who.

[TheBoy]

Is flying another drone at it(kamaksai) drone. Or is that to easy. Or an rc plane.

Depends on how manoeuvrable the invading quad is, and if its actually being flown, or flying autonomously.

[Mister Rog]

This all serves to reinforce my ever increasing avoidance/dislike of flying . . . .

[Kevin Wood]

I suspect these boys...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG2UW2nYBQQ

On a serious note, if quadcopters are now cheap enough that you can throw hundreds of them at something, then all you need to do is plant a shedload of them in the fields around an airport and, each time it looks like it's in danger of opening, send another one up to fly up and down the runway trolling them until the battery gets low, then return to its field, all without any interaction or wireless comms needed beyond the initial "go".

You then get a dog walker to case the field with a Li-Po in his pocket. If the location hasn't been compromised, a quick battery swap and it's ready to go again. Repeat until bored.

They'll be better off looking for the flurry of digital comms that was used to coordinate this than to try following the drones or looking for the pilots, although that's probably well hidden in the dark web if they're thorough.

[Andy H]

I suspect these boys...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG2UW2nYBQQ

On a serious note, if quadcopters are now cheap enough that you can throw hundreds of them at something, then all you need to do is plant a shedload of them in the fields around an airport and, each time it looks like it's in danger of opening, send another one up to fly up and down the runway trolling them until the battery gets low, then return to its field, all without any interaction or wireless comms needed beyond the initial "go".

You then get a dog walker to case the field with a Li-Po in his pocket. If the location hasn't been compromised, a quick battery swap and it's ready to go again. Repeat until bored.

They'll be better off looking for the flurry of digital comms that was used to coordinate this than to try following the drones or looking for the pilots, although that's probably well hidden in the dark web if they're thorough.

What do drones use for comms? (I assume they use a 3G mobile phone signal )

Could the mobile operators be forced to switch off their 3G?

The local residents might whinge and would have to rely on old fashioned copper for their internet, not sure what the 10,000 passengers stuck in the terminals would use - does Gatwick have guest WiFi 

[Doctor Gollum]

There's some talk of completely closing the airport tomorrow 

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Its a pretty safe bet that this will bring about new legislation on drones which will make life difficult for responsible owners and do far call to prevent it happening again. 

[Varche]

You mean likegun control in the USA stops murders?

I dare say all UK airports will have to have anti drone measures which will be passed onto the consumers in even higher parking charges or fees.

[Sir Tigger KC]

24 hours later the police are now saying that they will shoot the drones down if it's safe to do so.... 

[78bex]

search for the Litchi app & use it with the DGI models
Jamming the signal won`t kill the drone if it`s flying a waypoint mission
You can place multiple waypoints on a map, however far you want and the aircraft will fly from waypoint to waypoint and complete the mission even if the signal is lost.

The app dispays mission progress, next waypoint to fly ; next POI etc
The end mission directive is multiple, go home or reverse fly the mission, land or just hover
Yoo can also program it to  fly straight lines between waypoinys or curved & fly the next leg without loitering.