A Close Call: Police Helicopter Avoid Crash with a Drone

In a pursuit of tracking stolen vehicle, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) helicopter avoided a collision by a whisker with a drone. The suspected car thief escaped and never caught.

According to the local news Contra Costa Times, the CHP helicopter narrowly avoided a drone hovering above Contra Costa County on Saturday. The drone landed on Roux Court in Martinez, where the operator picked it up.

No arrest have been made, but a police report will be forwarded to federal and local agencies for review and possible prosecution. Police still disclosed the identity of the person operating the drone that almost caused a fatal accident. A very close encounter that according to CHP officer James Andrews, "The pilot had to make a very drastic, abrupt turn. It was very, very close."

The chopper was tracking a stolen vehicle above Highway 4, when the pilot saw a red light flying near the same altitude of 700-800 feet. The pilot whirled hard in an uncommon maneuver under normal flying circumstances to avoid the crash. The helicopter then followed the drone until it landed.

Drone has become the newest flying hazard in Bay Area, as pilot instructor Jay Weyas told ABC 7 News. Weyas, a pilot instructor at Buchanan Field Airport found a drone flying close to him a few months ago. More drones are also reported flying near the airport, as he said "Control tower reported there was a drone flying around 800 feet, so that puts me within 200 feet of that other aircraft that's flying around me and that's pretty close."

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has made a clear safety instruction for drone flight. It is because according to U.S. law, anyone flying drone is automatically become part of the U.S. aviation system. The safety instruction is published together with 'Know Before You Fly' campaign and list a number of safety precautions such as flying drone at maximum 400 feet, to never fly drone over stadium, and to never fly within 5 miles radius of an airport.

According to KQED News, FAA has received around 100 reports a month from pilots who say they've seen drones flying near planes and airports. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx last October said at a news conference in Washington, that pilot sightings of drones have doubled since last year, including near manned airplanes and at major sporting events

Starting this holiday season, FAA predicted a half million drone will enter U.S. airspace, as it is listed as one of the favorite holiday gifts. Together with three organizations that concern of drone safety, FAA have announced several no-fly-zone areas in the 'Know before You Fly' campaign. However, its enforcement requires a more reliable method such as dynamic geofencing.