dilemma THE NO-FLY
Airports are improving drone detection, but spotting a threat is only half the challenge. Philip Butterworth-Hayes, airspace specialist, examines the obstacles to effective response.
A
ny UK airport planning an effective, affordable counter-UAS strategy faces two challenges: finding the right technology to detect and
identify rogue drones, and having the power to do something about them. While hostile drone activity around military air bases and large UK hubs demands comprehensive protection, for most UK airports the threat is more nuanced. Operators must ensure their protection matches the actual risk and can be scaled affordably. “The majority of drones that might be operating
around an airport are probably not people who are looking to cause disruption,” says Craig Lippett, director of regulation and policy at the UK’s drone industry body ARPAS-UK. “They're probably just people who want to capture some imagery and aren't particularly well-educated around the rules.” The low-risk environment makes the investment
proposition look even less good value. “When you've got a very low probability event, it's
very hard to put a statistical number on the level of threat we should prepare for,” says Chris Daniels, co- chair of the ADS Group's Drone Platforms and Counter- Drone Special Interest Group.
“Today it's not a very high threat, but I would say it is almost certain that in the next five years there will be a major drone incident that will shut down an airport for a prolonged period of time.” Recent UK Airprox Board reports underline both the
threat and the difficulty of identification. In April 2026, an A319 approaching Gatwick passed within 100–300ft of an unidentified disc-shaped object. A day earlier, an A321 approaching Heathrow encountered a confirmed drone in an incident assessed as posing a definite risk of collision.
First, find the drone.
Airports Council International has warned that “drone detection at airports is no longer optional — it is a fundamental requirement for safe and resilient airport operations." It recommends a layered strategy that combines
threat assessment, airspace controls and multiple detection technologies. In practice, airports need to assess the risk, geo-
zone sensitive areas and agree a response plan with air traffic control, police and security partners before adding detection technology in layers. Passive RF sensors are a good start, with radar, optical, thermal or
Autumn 2026 | Advance 19
Photo credit: Anthony Brown/stock
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