Cities Looking to Combat Dangerous Drones

NCTCOG developing 'best practices' for cities to implement

The issue of drones and airports continues to be a national topic of conversation.

Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration announced there have been more than 650 sightings of drones near airports already this year, more than twice the 238 reports from all of 2014.

Those close calls have been well-documented across the country and in North Texas, where there have been several drone sightings near Dallas Love Field this year.

Incidents of pilots reporting drones to air traffic control haven't played out at smaller airports like Fort Worth's Meacham or Spinks airports, but city officials worry that it's only a matter of time and they want to be proactive.

Fort Worth Airport System Director Bill Welstead said he's working with the city attorney's office on an ordinance to beef up enforcement for those operating drones dangerously close to airports. There's no timetable just yet for when that ordinance will be ready, but Fort Worth isn't the only government looking at such rules.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments is working to develop best practices for reducing dangerous drone use near airports.

Welstead is working with the group and said the goal is to be proactive and protect the airspace where drones could cause problems with planes and helicopters.

Welstead told NBC 5 by phone that the way to protect the airspace is to limit where drones can be legally used and establishing regulations and safe places where they can freely operate to keep operators away from more sensitive locations like airports.

While the FAA has come out with recommendations saying drones should remain five miles from airports when operated, that requirement isn't necessarily enforceable at this point.

Welstead said local, state and federal governments need to put laws on the books to enforce such restrictions and that those who do get caught operating drones illegally are typically charged with other offenses as punishment.

Many drone operators do use them safely, but cities may soon step up to ground those behaving badly.

A report by the news agency Reuters on Monday said Congress may look at legislation to reduce dangerous drone operations as early as next month.

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