Shows need for drone-safety provisions in final FAA bill

Washington—As negotiations between the House and Senate on the final FAA reauthorization bill begin, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released an updated analysis of drone incidents in California that occurred between April 1, 2014, and January 31, 2016. The data were collected and released by the FAA in March.

Database of California drone incidents

For the national database of drone incidents, click here.

The Senate bill that passed last week includes drone-safety provisions similar to those in the Consumer Drone Safety Act. However, the House bill does not include any drone-safety provisions.

The first provision in the Senate bill would give the FAA authority to issue guidelines for when, where and how recreational drones are used. The second would require the installation of technological safeguards, including restrictions to prevent drones from flying too high or too close to critical infrastructure.

“One in five incidents of irresponsible drone use reported to the FAA in the past two years occurred in California. Drones have stopped aerial firefighting operations, come in close proximity to dozens of airports, including the second busiest airport in the country, and approached commercial planes carrying hundreds of passengers,” said Senator Feinstein. “Our state has the most at stake as Congress works to come to agreement on a final FAA bill. It is critical that the final bill include the Senate’s strong drone safety provisions.”

• Of nearly 1,500 incidents reported nationwide, 1 in 5 incidents occurred in California, more than any other state.
• There were incidents in 70 California communities.
• Nearly 80 percent of incidents in California involved a drone that climbed to a dangerously high altitude, at least 400 feet above ground level.
• More than half of incidents in California involved a drone within five miles of an airport.
• Nearly 30 percent of incidents in California involved a drone within approximately 500 feet of an aircraft.
• The largest number of incidents occurred is Los Angeles (62).
• One-third of incidents occurred in just three cities—Los Angeles, San Jose, and San Diego.

Full data and analysis are available here. The number of incidents by city follows:

• Anaheim: 1
• Bakersfield: 3
• Big Bear: 1
• Burbank: 14
• Byron: 1
• Carlsbad: 10
• Chico: 1
• Chino: 1
• Commerce: 1
• Compton: 1
• Concord: 4
• El Cajon: 3
• El Monte: 4
• Escondido: 1
• Fairview: 1
• Fallbrook: 1
• Fresno: 6
• Fullerton: 1
• Hawthorn: 2
• Hayward: 2
• Healdsburg: 1
• John Wayne Airport: 1
• La Verne: 5
• Lake Forest: 1
• Lancaster: 2
• Livermore: 7
• Lodi: 1
• Long Beach: 9
• Los Alamitos: 1
• Los Angeles: 62
• Mather: 1
• Merced: 1
• Modesto: 3
• Monterey: 1
• Napa: 2
• Oakland: 3
• Ontario: 7
• Orange: 1
• Palm Springs: 1
• Palo Alto: 7
• Pomona: 1
• Quincy: 1
• Rachos Palos Verdes: 1
• Ramona: 1
• Redding: 2
• Riverside: 7
• Sacramento: 8
• Salinas: 1
• San Bernardino: 3
• San Carlos: 2
• San Diego: 30
• San Francisco: 5
• San Jose: 22
• San Luis Obispo: 1
• Santa Ana: 18
• Santa Clara: 1
• Santa Monica: 8
• Santa Rosa: 3
• Sausalito: 1
• Silver Lake: 1
• Sonoma: 1
• South Lake Tahoe: 1
• Stockton: 2
• Torrance: 4
• Upland: 2
• Van Nuys: 14
• Venice Beach: 1
• Victorville: 1
• Visalia: 1
• Watsonville: 1
• Wilson Gardens: 1