[knarf]

where was the early warning device, or was the drone too small ?

[cicero2k]

The drone pilot is aware of his altitude.

Helicopters are loud.

The drone pilot should drop altitude and return to launch point if he hears aircraft.

Not to mention the phone apps that tell you of FAA regulations, based on geographic location.

[billyboy15]

The transmitters which operate the drones should be regulated and not have a range exceeding approximately 200 ft. Drones should also be required to automatically descend to ground level once contact with transmitting controller is lost.

This needs immediate attention before a passenger jet ingests one of these things on takeoff or landing.

[Mouton]

The helicopters were providing security for a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly,

Another waste of money and equipment.

[Mouton]

The helicopters were providing security for a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly,

Another waste of money and equipment.

[dfwgator]

It won’t be the last time something like this happens.

[elpadre]

It’s only a matter of time before a drone causes a major accident and multiple deaths - accidentally or purposely.

[BuffaloJack]

The drone is a 17”x17”x8” quadcopter and sells for $499 on Amazon. It comes with a HD video camera and has a flight time of up to 15 minutes. Also, the radio control is about 300 meters and if it gets out beyond that, it will return by GPS to its starting point.

[Pollster1]

For reference, the drone costs $1k and weighs 8.8 pounds, 15 x 8.7 x 12.8 inches. It’s a little bigger than a kids’ toy.

[Yo-Yo]

Arterburn says the collision could have been much worse for the Black Hawk. “The way the [drone] hit them...was in somewhat of a benign orientation. I think they got fortunate.” It appears the drone hit the left side of the aircraft and bounced up into the retreating blade, where it was struck again. If it had hit an advancing blade, it could have done major damage, says Arterburn.

Mr. Arterburn needs to brush up on his helicopter dynamics.

There is nothing different about the advancing or retreating blade from a drone strike perspective. The relative velocities between the drone and the blade are identical.

The difference between the advancing and the retreating blade is only aerodynamic while in forward flight, where the apparent wind speed of the retreating blade is slower than that of the advancing blade, thus affecting the lift generated by the blade.

[Flick Lives]

Other than being easier to fly, a so-called drone, as the media likes to call them, is nothing more than a radio controlled aircraft; and radio controlled aircraft have been around for over 50 years. Perhaps people have less common sense now to avoid operating an R/C aircraft near real aircraft.

[IronJack]

The civilian helicopter would have FARED much worse.

Do they teach English in journalism schools these days?

[bgill]

Was it an Amazon delivery drone?

[JimRed]

One of those little hand-sized drones, or something bigger?

[Wuli]

Yes, neither drones nor “air cars” in the future will be able to avoid or ignore “traffic lanes”.