Big increase in drone encounters with commercial aviation.

On Monday a Jet Blue flight hit a drone on approach to JFK, a helicopter reported one in the area on the same day, and a United Flight reported a near miss (100').

I personally have had two encounters in the last year:

1. About six months ago I was flying from the PCola area down to Boca in my airplane. Passing just north of Tyndall I encountered a medium-sized drone mostly stationary north of the base at about 5000'. A friend was with me and she saw it first. No ADSB and not talking to anyone. I called approach and they did not have it on radar, a plane in trail of me reported it as well.

2. About 8 months ago departed Charleston Exec Runway 9. Approach turned turned me north then west and climbed me through the Class C. Passing 5000' My passenger and I both saw very large drone 1000' below us and clearly inside the Charleston Class C. It clearly had a gimbal payload. I called and they were not tracking it...they clearly got very worked up.

Whether it is hobbyist or something more nefarious, there does seem to be an increase and it seems like a easy asymmetric attack vector towards the airline industry.

What are you airline folks seeing out there?

Only one anecdote, on arrival into DFW maybe a year ago, aircraft ahead of us reported one at about 7000’ MSL and about a mile off his right wing, we both continued arrival to RWY36L, uneventfully. Never saw it.

Funny you mention this, I’ve wondered when some idiot, maniac, terrorist, saboteur, etc… was going to fly one into an airliner, or a train, bus, ferry, etc…

Edited Tuesday at 12:58 PM2 days by Clark Griswold

If anyone isn't already reading the HAF Daily Current Ops Update on SIPRNET on a daily basis, I'd strongly encourage them to do so!

There's a link to it on the BaseOps Intellipedia page (yes, BaseOps has an Intellipedia page!), just search for 'Air Force Operations Group'.

I just added the direct link to the briefs.

When someone dies is usually when changes occur. Usually*.

One of the fire bombers from the LA Palisades fire hit a drone on the wing leading edge. Oops said the operator. He plead out, $65K restitution, 150 hrs community service ISO wildfire efforts.

In 2011 a Herc (Niagara I think) hit an RQ-7 Shadow, which wikapedia says is 250-450Lbs and 14ft wingspan. Herc landed, Shadow crashed. Not getting into the gritty on who was responsible, just showing the potential damage.

*DCA

A TXARNG UH-60 involved in Guadalupe River flood rescue operations near Kerrville was forced to make an emergency landing after being struck by a privately operated drone on 7 July 2025. The drone was reportedly flying inside a TFR established to protect SAR aircraft working the catastrophe.

The Black Hawk landed safely, but officials said a critical emergency-response asset was removed from service pending inspection and repairs.

There needs to be far more severe penalties for drone issues. The FAA tried with part 107, and I’m sure that has helped, but let’s face it - there are thousands of dipshits who buy a drone online and just let it rip. They’re the ones who need severe penalties when they cause a midair, fly in TFRs, etc. Thankfully most of my back country flying is remote, but we have seen an increase in drone “events” IVO fires that are closer to more populated areas in the last couple years. I’m surprised there haven’t been more midairs with aircraft supporting fires or other disasters.

Wonder if making the operators use a radar reflector add-on is worthwhile? These folks hovering in airport airspaces and other sensitive areas will probably ignore a rule/law like that (just answered my own question, huh?).