Gatwick closed (mod note post 1)

Reati

recyclebin wrote: »

I'm surprised it took so long for drones to be used to do something like this. I thought they would more likely be used to interfere with some of the world leaders travel plans or events.

You have to get around things like GEO. It's not actually very easy to fly one of these at an airport. This person knows a thing or too about how to defeat that system. It's not your average Joe off the shelf drone.

kevinandrew

This is very strange.

A few hours seemed excessive but nearly 24 hours after the closure and nobody appears none the wiser is just madness.


All eyes have been on Gatwick today and yet there has been zero photo or video evidence of the drones, just one or two unconfirmed grainy images.


The whole thing is very bizarre.

Homer

Reati wrote: »

You have to get around things like GEO. It's not actually very easy to fly one of these at an airport. This person knows a thing or too about how to defeat that system. It's not your average Joe off the shelf drone.

Problem is that it’s really only DJI that are a responsible company and insist on the geofencing on their drones. There are heaps of very capable Chinese drones that don’t have that technology built in. And like everything there are ways to jailbreak the DJI software to bypass the geofencing! It’s virtually impossible to stop a determined idiot with a drone from repeating this. Short of shooting them out of the sky if you can locate it and keep up with it. Maximum speed and agility means they can outrun a car easily!

PukkaStukka

Reati wrote: »

recyclebin wrote: »

I'm surprised it took so long for drones to be used to do something like this. I thought they would more likely be used to interfere with some of the world leaders travel plans or events.

You have to get around things like GEO. It's not actually very easy to fly one of these at an airport. This person knows a thing or too about how to defeat that system. It's not your average Joe off the shelf drone.

Agreed. I'm thinking there is far more to this.

I use a drone regularly. It's great.


Out-and-out moronic idiots like the prick doing this is only going to make it more difficult/expensive to have a drone.

Also, I get about 20 mins on a single battery if I barely move the drone, and if it hits off anything (ie; wires, etc.) it's a goner, so sending a drone to hit a drone should work (ie if the Police sent one up to clatter into this one).

Homer

Homer wrote: »

Problem is that it’s really only DJI that are a responsible company and insist on the geofencing on their drones. There are heaps of very capable Chinese drones that don’t have that technology built in. And like everything there are ways to jailbreak the DJI software to bypass the geofencing! It’s virtually impossible to stop a determined idiot with a drone from repeating this. Short of shooting them out of the sky if you can locate it and keep up with it. Maximum speed and agility means they can outrun a car easily!

Not to mention it is relatively easy to build your own using off the shelf motors, flight controllers etc. There is a whole hobby built around it. You have to be a bit nerdy but it's not rocket science.

dohouch

Shotgun, the ones they use for Geese. Not a shotgun owner or ever have been, but I know there are shotguns narrow gauge, tight shot pattern, are used as for high flying geese, but have see zig-zagging low flying Snipe taken down

PukkaStukka

Night time flying restrictions are
being temporarily lifted into other London airports to try get passengers moving

Homer

MrMusician18

dohouch wrote: »

Shotgun, the ones they use for Geese. Not a shotgun owner or ever have been, but I know there are shotguns narrow gauge, tight shot pattern, are used as for high flying geese, but have see zig-zagging low flying Snipe taken down

I wonder are they afraid that it might be carrying a toxic payload?

If it was carrying a bag of flour and they shot it down, it would cause panic

jasper100

Deleted User wrote: »

It's my belief that there will be a major terrorist attack(s) using drones in the near future. The technology has gotten so cheap, and the stuff they can do with programmed GPS routes, improved flight time, flying in convoy, over walls etc. I shudder to think of the possibilities.

Thankfully in this case it just seems to be somebody intent on causing disruption. Perhaps an ex-employee with a grudge.

The Provo's used use improvised mortars. Lobbing bombs over barracks walls, not very reliable or easily transported.

If they had drones back in their day they could just fly in with a payload of semtex and other explosives and blast barracks or bridges or troops marching down the mall etc.

EdgeCase

I don't understand how the drone is staying powered for this long. They typically shouldn't have a battery life of much more than 30 minutes.

Inquitus

EdgeCase wrote: »

I don't understand how the drone is staying powered for this long. They typically shouldn't have a battery life of much more than 30 minutes.

Someone is charging and replacing the batteries.

Locker10a

EdgeCase wrote: »

I don't understand how the drone is staying powered for this long. They typically shouldn't have a battery life of much more than 30 minutes.

Aren’t there multiple ones?

robinph

EdgeCase wrote: »

I don't understand how the drone is staying powered for this long. They typically shouldn't have a battery life of much more than 30 minutes.

It's not, but other than official statements that Gatwick spotted a drone at 9pm on the 19th and then 3:45am, 7am and 12pm that is all we have on confirmed drone activity.

Some people saying there were multiple drones, some saying they are big drones, some saying they are "substantial drones"... but there is nothing at all on what they actually are, where around the airport they have been flying or for how long they have been flying each time they have been spotted.

cameramonkey

dohouch wrote: »

Shotgun, the ones they use for Geese. Not a shotgun owner or ever have been, but I know there are shotguns narrow gauge, tight shot pattern, are used as for high flying geese, but have see zig-zagging low flying Snipe taken down

I suppose the drone could be flying above 500 meters. It would be difficult to hit with any shotgun. Any air defense weapon would be better but obviously much more dangerous. A programmed shell fired with a proximity detonation or distance detonation would do the job but cant see them using them.


Something like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wewaCdSW4yc

gctest50

robinph wrote: »

It's not, but other than official statements that Gatwick spotted a drone at 9pm on the 19th and then 3:45am, 7am and 12pm that is all we have on confirmed drone activity.

That was the time to go hunting the filthy terrorist - need the gear though

Ninthlife

Media being fed a story that 'drones' have closed the airport

Well anyone who watched the insighful documentary Independence Day will know otherwise..

dhaughton99

Locker10a wrote: »

Aren’t there multiple ones?

The language is very spotty but from what I make out, it’s multiple sightings of 2 drones.

The transport minister is just after been of c4 news and keeps saying ‘drone’, not ‘drones’.

It all stinks to high heavens.

Colonel Claptrap

Tinfoil hat time. Here goes.

There are no drones. MI5 intercepted intelligence suggesting a highjacking team were about to board a flight at LGW. No other details.

Authorities have closed the airport (using drones as a ruse), hoping to flush out the terrorists, without alerting the general public and passengers inside the terminal. If they are spooked, they might take hostages.

A lot of passengers have remained in the airport since last night. So have the terrorists. Face recognition CCTV is scouring the exits. Authorities are waiting for the terrorists to bolt.

Also, and this is the important part, Bruce Willis has been drinking in the airport bar all night. He got in a scuffle with security, lost his shoes and socks and was thrown through a WH Smith window.

There is glass everywhere.

Car99

Colonel Claptrap wrote: »

Tinfoil hat time. Here goes.

There are no drones. MI5 intercepted intelligence suggesting a highjacking team were about to board a flight at LGW. No other details.

Authorities have closed the airport (using drones as a ruse), hoping to flush out the terrorists, without alerting the general public and passengers inside the terminal. If they are spooked, they might take hostages.

A lot of passengers have remained in the airport since last night. So have the terrorists. Face recognition CCTV is scouring the exits. Authorities are waiting for the terrorists to bolt.

Also, and this is the important part, Bruce Willis has been drinking in the airport bar all night. He got in a scuffle with security, lost his shoes and socks and was thrown through a WH Smith window.

There is glass everywhere.

What does Bruce think of the flight crew that reported the drones , are they complicit?

markpb

Car99 wrote: »

What does Bruce think of the flight crew that reported the drones , are they complicit?

People see what they want to see.

Reati

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2018/12/20/gatwick-airport_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqeo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpg

That is the supposedly picture.

Reati

Homer wrote: »

Problem is that it’s really only DJI that are a responsible company and insist on the geofencing on their drones. There are heaps of very capable Chinese drones that don’t have that technology built in. And like everything there are ways to jailbreak the DJI software to bypass the geofencing! It’s virtually impossible to stop a determined idiot with a drone from repeating this. Short of shooting them out of the sky if you can locate it and keep up with it. Maximum speed and agility means they can outrun a car easily!

That was my point. Someone went to the hassle of figuring out how to do this. They either built, modded or researched a drone to do this. Of course you can get around it but you need to figure it out.

Anyway, What I don’t get is why the airport is still closed. There has been no updated sightings since this Morning.

Mr.Crinklewood

Reati wrote: »

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2018/12/20/gatwick-airport_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqeo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpg

That is the supposedly picture.

Probably just one of those "Mayo for Sam" thingies

Markcheese

Reati wrote: »

That was my point. Someone went to the hassle of figuring out how to do this. They either built, modded or researched a drone to do this. Of course you can get around it but you need to figure it out.

Anyway, What I don’t get is why the airport is still closed. There has been no updated sightings since this Morning.

I assume when they reshut the runway around 3 or 4am they had to make a call as to what was happening, and when they could reopen safely..

Itssoeasy

Reati wrote: »

That was my point. Someone went to the hassle of figuring out how to do this. They either built, modded or researched a drone to do this. Of course you can get around it but you need to figure it out.

Anyway, What I don’t get is why the airport is still closed. There has been no updated sightings since this Morning.

Well my understanding is whenever they have tried to reopen the airport these drones reappear.

The Specialist

Drone operator should be shot on sight once found.

Kalyke

Reati wrote: »

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2018/12/20/gatwick-airport_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqeo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpg

That is the supposedly picture.

Aah, a disgruntled Mayo fan!!

dhaughton99

Reati wrote: »

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2018/12/20/gatwick-airport_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqeo_i_u9APj8RuoebjoAHt0k9u7HhRJvuo-ZLenGRumA.jpg

That is the supposedly picture.

Wouldn’t you disable the lights with tape if you were up to no good.