Drones Over Michigan Airports: Sightings Go Up, FAA on Alert

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DETROIT, MI – Last May, a certified flight instructor was aboard a Cessna C172 near the Romeo State Airport during a training flight when the pilot had to suddenly break off course to avoid a mid-air collision with a red, white and blue drone with a 10-foot wing span.

The flight instructor reported to Federal Aviation Administration authorities that he could see a person who seemed to be operating the drone and he reportedly provided video to back up the claim.

The incident occurred within five miles of airport in Romeo, and that’s considered restricted airspace. The FAA prohibits drones and model airplanes from flying higher than 400 feet or within five miles of an airport.

The story is one of the more dramatic incidents among 18 Michigan drone sightings — several of them at Detroit Metro Airport — reported since the FAA began collecting data in November 2014.

The FAA has received more reports of drone sightings nationwide in the past six months than in any of the previous nine months combined, newly released numbers show. In Michigan, too, sightings appear to be climbing. As those numbers rise, so do officials’ worries.

The uptick in reported sightings has officials on alert.

Nationally, the administration has collected more than 1,300 reports of possible drone sightings in those unauthorized areas. From November 2014 through July 2015, the agency reported 649 sightings. In the six months that followed, August 2015 through January 2016, that number was 697.

In Michigan, there were six sightings from November 2014 through July 2015. In the six months that followed, they doubled with 12 reported sightings.

As those sightings rise, so do cases of pilots deviating from their routes to avoid drone collisions. The FAA numbers, updated March 25 to include reports from August through January, cite multiple close calls between planes and drones. The FAA calls them UAS's, or unmanned aircraft systems.

In the vast majority of the reports, no evasive action was required.

In Michigan, two pilots — the one flying near Romeo and another preparing to land at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City last June — reported having to change their course to avoid a collision.

As more and more drones populate U.S. airways, officials are urging operators to register their UAS and to be aware of no-fly zones.

In a press release, the FAA said it "wants to send a clear message that operating drones around airplanes and helicopters is dangerous and illegal." Unauthorized operators are subject to fines and possible criminal charges, including jail time.

The agency offers an app with information on where drones can fly safely. Its drone registry is also available online, meant to identify owners and educate amateur operators. Registration is $5 and must be renewed every three years.

In addition to the incident near Romeo, others reported in Michigan include:

Jan. 27, 2016, 11:06 a.m.: Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti was notified of a drone in the vicinity of the airport, although the actual time of date of the incident was unknown. A video was published on YouTube. The last few seconds of the video documents aerial filming of a vehicle on the south access road, outside of the perimeter fence.

Jan. 2, 2016, 2:25 p.m.: The pilot of Express Jet 2323 reported a small quadcopter-type drone flying within 200 to 300 yards of his right wing while flying at 2,400 feet while on the seven-mile final approach to Runway 23L.

Dec. 13, 2015, 2:52 p.m.: A Cessna C172 pilot at 3,000 feet observed a done maneuvering on the final approach to Runway 27L at the Oakland County International Airport. The Waterford Police Department was notified.

Dec. 5, 2015, 5:43 p.m.: A Cessna C210 pilot reported seeing an unknown type of drone “fly right by his aircraft within less than a mile at 5,800 feet” as he approached Bishop International Airport at Flint. It appeared to be northbound.

Nov. 16, 11:30 a.m.: A pilot for Express Jet Flight 5254 at 3,000 feet observed a drone 1,000 feet below on the right on the final approach to Runway 22 at Detroit Metro Airport. The Dearborn Heights Police Department was notified

Sept. 28, 2015, 12 a.m.: A concerned citizen reported an unknown type of drone operating above 500 feet near Bishop International Airport in Flint, though no conflict with aircraft was reported. The FAA said an individual driving a Davies Industries truck told Swartz Creek Police the company had permission from Bishop International Airport to fly the drone, but airport officials said they had not approved the operation.

Sept. 23, 2015, 7:40 p.m.: A pilot approaching the MBS International Airport in Freeland reported a drone at the same altitude, 4,500 feet, and said it was headed southeast. The pilot stated the drone “was fast.”

Sept. 13, 2015, 3 p.m.: Delta Flight 1312 was flying at 2,500 on the final approach to Runway 4R at the Detroit Metro Airport when an off-white stationery drone was spotted off to the right side of the aircraft. The incident was reported to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

Sept. 1, 2015, 10:36 p.m.: A Delta Flight 1645 pilot at 1,000 feet observed a silver drone 500 below and to the left side on the final approach to Detroit Metro Airport. Airport police were notified.

Aug. 22, 2015,2:28 p.m.: A pilot at 4,000 feet near the Oakland/Troy Airport reported seeing a “light” drone about 1,000 feet below the aircraft south of Troy and heading southeast. The Royal Oak Police Department was notified.

Aug. 9, 2015, 12:43 a.m.: Delta tower personnel observed a drone hovering 100 feet above the terminal ramp. Airport police were notified, and there was no impact to operations.

July 28, 2015, 4 p.m.: The pilot of a Piper P28A reported a big, black drone above and behind his aircraft at 8,000 feet southwest of Grayling Army Airfield. No evasive action was reported, and the Crawford County Sheriff was notified.

July 8, 2015, 2:40 p.m.: A pilot reported a drone approximately one mile north of his course at 2,000 feet as he approached Runway 5 at MBS International Airport in Freeland.

June 29, 2015, 3 p.m.: A pilot of a Bombardier CL30 reported a near mid-air collision with a drone at 2,100 feet on the final approach to the Runway 28 at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City. “Unknown evasive action” was taken and the aircraft was able to safely land.

March 17, 2015, 7:02 p.m.: A red and green drone was reported to be hovering over a U.S. Coast Guard’s Lake Michigan station at Muskegon. It appeared to be operating from a nearby truck. The Coast Guard’s National Response Center was notified.

Feb. 13, 2015, 1:03 p.m.: Delta Airlines Flight 2017 reported seeing a drone off his right side at about 5,500 feet north of Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The pilot couldn’t describe the type of drone, but said it was “good-sized,” and also reported it was stationary and black in color. The Transportation Security Administration was notified.

(Alison Bauter of Patch’s Massachusetts bureau contributed to this report.)

Image credit: Ed Schipul via Flickr / Creative Commons