Southend Airport trials detect 'rogue' drone operators

A "rogue" drone trial carried out at London Southend Airport means the location of the operator can be identified

Successful trials to track and identify "rogue" drone users have been carried out by a UK airport.

London Southend Airport said drones were causing an increased safety risk with up to four sightings in London airspace a week.

The new surveillance technology means it is now possible to detect drones further away from airports.

A Southend Airport spokeswoman said it also "identifies exactly where the operator is located".

This meant there was a "possibility of them being apprehended, something which has previously been almost impossible," she said.

A series of drones were deployed near the airport in order to test how the equipment worked.

The airport said the size and colour of most drones meant they were usually very difficult to spot.

If one was sighted near a critical part of an airport, such as a runway, then the only option was to completely stop operations.

Damon Knight, of London Southend Airport Air Traffic Services, said there had been "some sightings near the airport".

The technology was built by METIS and developed with IPS.

Civil Aviation Authority guidance says drones should steer clear of airports and airfields by a distance of at least 5km (16,404 ft) and should fly below 120m (400ft).