Police drone causes extensive damage to Cessna 172 aircraft during landing

A recent incident in Canada has raised concerns about the safety of drones and their potential to cause damage to aircraft. According to a report from the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), a student pilot and flight instructor were flying a Cessna 172 aircraft near Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport when they collided with a police-operated drone. The pilots felt a jolt that pushed them back in their seats, but were able to continue their landing without any issues.

The incident happened one nautical mile away from the airport at an altitude of about 500 feet above ground level. Transport Canada states that drones are not allowed to fly within three nautical miles of an airport or above 400 feet without special authorization. Furthermore, drone operators within controlled airspace must also be in contact with air traffic control.

However, in this case, Toronto Buttonville is a controlled airport and air traffic control was not aware of any drone activity on that day. The drone was not authorized to fly in the airspace and the only statement from police is that the drone was a part of an ongoing police operation. The owner of the flight school believes that had the drone hit higher, the pilots could have been injured or worse.

The damage to the Cessna aircraft was significant, with a propeller strike and a bent airbox reported. An engine teardown will be necessary to inspect for any additional damage. This incident is not an isolated one and it highlights the growing concern about the safety of drones and their potential to cause damage to aircraft.