Heathrow Airport, based in London, is the United Kingdom`s busiest airfield. After a recent spate of incidents involving drones, including an unsuccessful attempt by climate activists to ground flights, officials have decided to take action. A bespoke anti-drone system, developed by Aveillant Limited, a subsidiary of France´s Thales SA, has been deployed at Heathrow to detect and prevent unauthorized drone use.
`The safety and security of our passengers and colleagues is our number one priority. That is why we´re investing in this new cutting-edge technology which will enhance our capabilities in the detection and deterrence of drones in and around our airfield. We´re delighted to have this unique system keeping our skies safe and helping passengers and cargo to get to their destinations on time,` says Jonathan Coen, Director of Security for Heathrow Airport.
A similar system is also in place at Paris´ Charles de Gaulle Airport. Rogue drones can be detected at a distance of up to 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) away. The one installed at Heathrow can also pinpoint the exact location of offending remote pilots. From there, appropriate countermeasures can be deployed, though it`s not yet clear what those will be. Anyone caught flying in a Flight Restriction Zone, which extends out to 5 kilometers of any airport boundary, can face up to 5 years in prison if they have not secured permission ahead of time.
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