Shocking footage emerged this week of an Emirates Airbus A380 being filmed by a drone at very close range, during take-off from an Airport in Mauritius (Plaine Magnien).
There is much speculation around whether the footage is real or not, Facebook groups and internet articles are gathering numerous comments suggesting that the footage is not real.
In this video, we provide a full analysis and our verdict.
See our full 2-part video analysis…
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Part 1: Initial analysis and evidence…
Part 2: Followup analyis and ‘questions answered’…
Was his flight legal…
Common sense normally prevails and drone operators know that they should not be flying their drone near to an active airport, without obtaining prior permission. Generally global guidance is to be flying no closer than 5 kilometers (or 5 miles in the USA) to an airport.]
This operator chose to fly his drone outside of the direct vicinity of the airport (according to the NFZ) but chose to sit on the approach which technically speaking is controlled airspace and directly in the path of air traffic.
According to the ANO (Air Navigation Order) for Mauritius, the following is stated, which prohibits flights such as this:
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”No person in charge of a remotely piloted aircraft shall fly the aircraft (b) within an aerodrome traffic zone during the notified hours of watch of the air traffic control unit at that aerodrome unless permission of the ATC unit is obtained”. (source: Mauritius ANO)[/perfectpullquote]
On that basis regardless of the altitude at which the drone operator was flying, the drone was being flown in an air traffic zone and therefore is flown contrary to the ANO.
What drone was being flown…
It is impossible to know for sure because there is no evidence, at all. Some have suggested that the drone might have been a Parrot Anafi but this weak link only seems to be on the basis that Mauritius is a partly-French speaking country and that the original source of the footage was a French A380 Airbus pilot, this makes it a rumor, not a fact.
The DJI NFZ zone for this airport is small and therefore a DJI drone would be capable of flying from the spot where the footage was captured.
Are drones the only risk…
Actually drones are not the biggest risk to Mauritius air-traffic, as witnessed in July 2017, pilots of manned aircraft should be focus on other manned aircraft, not just drones.
In July last year, there was a near-miss between an Emirates A380 and an other aircraft flying for Air Seychelles.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”An Emirates A380 was beginning its descent into Mauritius when it narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with another plane. The Emirates flight incorrectly reported the plane’s altitude. An Air Seychelles flight had just taken off at the same time, and was cleared to climb to the same altitude — into the direct path of the A380. The captain of the Air Seychelles flight, bound for Mahe Island, was forced to take quick action and make a sharp turn to avoid the impending mid-air collision.” Source: The National UAE News[/perfectpullquote]
Fly safely, fly responsibly…
We, the drone community, strongly condemn drone operation like this as it places great risk not only to air-traffic but also to justifying increased regulation globally for drone owners.
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