WASHINGTON — Even with warnings that much of the D.C. area is a “no drone zone,” several people have been caught flying them, and researchers say local airports may be suffering the consequences.
Virginia Tech researchers say flying drones too close to the region’s airports could lead to safety issues and crumbling commercial airliner engines.
Computer simulations by the researchers show that larger drones could do significantly more damage to a jet engine than a bird strike.
The simulations project that an eight-pound drone could rip apart the blades of an engine during takeoff in a fraction of a second.
The researchers say the risk shows airline pilots should not fly in areas where there are drones.
Also, they are urging the Federal Aviation Administration to look at whether jet engines should be designed to withstand drone strikes in the same way that planes must pass standards for bird strikes today.
Bird strikes were the initial focus of the research three years ago, before concern began to grow about drone use near airports.
