Headlines Are Proving My Point—But That’s Not a Win
By Tom Walker, Founder & CEO, DroneUp
Unfortunately, the headlines are now echoing what many of us—myself included—in the industry have been warning about: our low-altitude airspace is dangerously congested, and the consequences are getting harder to ignore as new headlines detailing near-misses involving drones and aircraft are popping up everywhere.
On one hand, I’m encouraged to see major outlets like the Associated Press and Fox News putting a spotlight on the issue. Public awareness is an essential first step. But awareness alone isn’t enough. What troubles me is that, despite increasing coverage and rising alarm, we still aren’t moving fast enough to put meaningful safeguards in place.
According to the AP, drones were involved in about two-thirds of the reported near-midair collisions with commercial aircraft near the 30 busiest airports in the U.S. That’s not just a statistic. That’s a clear signal that the system we have today is unsustainable and unsafe.
And when you take a closer look at the data, it becomes even more unsettling. These aren’t isolated incidents. The number of close calls is mounting, and with each one, we edge closer to a catastrophe. This isn’t just a drone industry problem—it’s a public safety issue that affects pilots, passengers, and people on the ground.
The FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent announcement to modernize America’s outdated air traffic control systems is a welcome development. However, for this effort to truly be effective, it must include a strategy to safely integrate uncrewed aircraft and deconflict low-altitude airspace. Right now, that critical layer is missing. Without it, we risk modernizing part of the system while leaving a gaping hole where the fastest-growing segment of air traffic operates.
The longer we wait, the greater the risk becomes, and a “near-miss” turns into a tragedy.
Recent conversations I’ve had with government agencies, along with the ATC modernization announcement, give me hope. There are smart, dedicated people working behind the scenes to improve airspace management and integrate new technologies in safer, more efficient ways.
This is a moment that calls for collaboration, urgency, and innovation. We’re ready to be part of the solution. Because the only acceptable number of drone-aircraft collisions is zero.