Passenger Terminal Today
22 April 2024
The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has said modifications to statutory authorities for drone detection and counter-drone operations could better protect airports against an active drone threat.
Since 2021, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has reported over 2,000 drone sightings near airports across the country, including incidents at major airports nearly every day. From 2021 through 2022, TSA reported that 63 drone incidents caused pilots to take evasive action, including four that involved commercial aircraft.
In its report, GAO notes that the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice (DOJ), Defense, and Energy have express statutory authority to use counter-drone technologies if certain statutory criteria are met. They also have federal statutory exemptions from specified federal criminal laws that are potentially applicable to the use of such technologies. These technologies can be used at an airport by DHS and DOJ if the drone poses, for example, a credible threat to safety or security and the DHS Secretary or the Attorney General designates the airport for an emergency response.
[Read more: GAO calls for modifications to better protect airports from drones - Passenger Terminal Today]
