Drones: The rising security threat for today’s smart airport

Airport World
John Kasuda and Briana Clark
28 June 2024

Perimeter security at US airports, and of course gateways across the globe, is of utmost importance for several reasons, not the least of which is the need to protect the safety and security of passengers and staff.

Preventing unauthorised access to airport facilities and aircraft helps safeguard against sabotage and other malicious activities, while also enhancing public confidence in this critical infrastructure.

Complicating the security case are new security risks – drones. The cheap and easy-to-buy devices are popular with curious thrill seekers as well as bad actors intent on causing real harm. Unfortunately, airports are an apt target for both. Because drones are classified as aircraft, destroying or damaging them may be subject to legal consequences similar to those applicable to manned aircraft.

With the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) receiving over 100 reports each month of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sightings from pilots, citizens, and law enforcement, these incidents are rapidly becoming a thorn in the side of airport security operators and a burden on the national airspace system (NAS). The FAA has established specific protocols for handline drones that pose security threats; yet airports must tread carefully to avoid violating federal regulation on interfering with aircraft operation.

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