December 12, 2024
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Mysterious drone sightings show just how many drones are in the American skies
Mysterious drone sightings over New Jersey and New York highlight the prevalence of these vehicles in the US
Joel Paparini/Getty Images
For weeks, residents of New Jersey and neighboring states have been perplexed by a number of mysterious drone sightings, and the latest report is a reminder of just how many of these small vehicles are flying around the United States. It is something. Domestic drone users are accustomed to investigating unmanned aircraft sightings, with more than 400 such incidents tallied between July and September 2024 alone.
Despite this standard, the New Jersey case, which began in mid-November, has received particular attention and is subject to ongoing investigation by various local and national officials. “The FAA continues to assist its interagency partners in assessing the situation and currently reported drone sightings,” an FAA representative said. scientific american.
But just how many drones are operating in the United States that could cause such bizarre sightings? Drone owners must register aircraft that weigh more than 0.55 pounds with the FAA. However, for recreational flyers, the agency does not require all individual aircraft to be registered, creating inconsistencies and uncertainties in the tally of these vehicles in particular.
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According to FAA regulations, owners of recreational drones are currently allowed to fly only for personal enjoyment, and such drones must remain within the pilot’s line of sight, away from the aircraft, and at high altitudes. Restrictions include staying below 400 feet. Anyone flying a drone for other purposes, including commercial reasons, is required to become a “certified remote pilot” with the agency.
Based on 2023 data, the agency predicts there will be approximately 1.8 million recreational drones flying in the United States in 2024. In the same report, the government agency predicts that nearly 1 million commercial drones will be in operation this year.
The drone reported over New Jersey appears to be relatively large, potentially falling into the FAA’s large class, which weighs more than 55 pounds. (This is the agency’s only size-related division in drone surveillance.) These large drones are less common than other smaller drones, with perhaps 2,300 flying by the end of 2023. It will become more common in the coming years. As the number of these vehicles has increased over the past decade, authorities have worked to regulate them and their impact on airports and commercial aircraft in particular.
The United States also has a fleet of military drones, about 11,000, according to an undated Department of Defense webpage. Having said that, recent press conferencePentagon officials confirmed that no U.S. military drones were involved in the activity witnessed. He also said they are not believed to be the work of a “foreign entity” at this time.
