DAA to ‘take down drones’

NEW anti-drone technology to take down drones is on the way for Dublin Airport following a number of incidents in recent weeks, which forced the suspension of operations and saw a number of flights diverted.

The existing technology in use at Dublin Airport – called Dedrone – helps identify drones but does not have the capacity to force the landing of a device.

because of the noise level. we have to tell the customer: ‘Hold on please a minute’ and no sooner have we finished with that one and another one comes”.

Michael said he estimates there are planes flying overhead “every two minutes, so that is unbearable.”

“This actually got worse and weekends are very poor — on Saturday we can’t hear ourselves in the garden centre,” he added.

The Dublin Airport Authority said the new technology will ensure that any future runway closures because of drone incursions will be of shorter duration or not happen at all. It’s illegal to fly a drone within 5km of an airfield and virtually all drones are supposed to be registered by users.

The new system should ensure that Dublin Airport doesn’t have to close its airspace “at all” due to illicit drone activity. The new system can detect a drone at the perimeter, take control of it and “take it down”.