RAWALPINDI: Islamabad airport authorities have asked the police to ban drone activities around the runway after one came dangerously close to an aircraft.
The directives were issued after a UN plane en route from Kabul on January 16 encountered a drone flying at an altitude of about 3,400 feet and eight nautical miles from the runway.
In his notification to the police and district administration, the airport manager said that the UN B-190 aircraft with flight number UN-355H was approaching at around 2:30 pm when it observed the drone flying at an altitude of approximately 3,400 feet while the aircraft’s altitude was 3,700 feet. .
According to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), the area where the drone was flying was identified as Phase VIII of Bahria town in Rawalpindi.
Islamabad International Airport Chief Operating Officer Syed Aftab Ali Shah Gilani sought the help of the Regional Police Officer (RPO) and Commissioner Rawalpindi after the second flight hazard complaint was received within a month.
Islamabad Airport writes to police to curb drone flights in funnel areas
On January 8, the pilot of a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Dubai reported that a green laser light was directed at an aircraft scheduled to land on Runway 28L, six NM from the airport.
The airport’s director of operations said drones not only pose a threat of collision with aircraft, but also cause security concerns if they are equipped with tracking devices or improvised explosive devices.