Tuesday, 4 Apr 2023
Updated / Tuesday, 4 Apr 2023 21:21
Ryanair called for the technology to be in place for Easter weekend
By Brian O\u0027Donovan
By Brian O'Donovan
Work & Technology Correspondent
New anti-drone technology at Dublin Airport is not expected to be
operational in time for the busy Easter holiday period.
However airport operator daa said it hoped the system would be up and
running by the summer period.
Around 485,000 people are set to pass through the airport this coming
weekend, making it the busiest weekend of the year so far.
Easter Monday will be the busiest day of the five-day period, with
103,000 passengers flying in and out of the airport.
Daa has advised passengers to arrive at their terminal two hours in
advance of a short-haul flight and three hours before a long-haul
flight.
It said it has purchased anti-drone equipment and begun to provide
training, but is working through regulatory requirements before it can
be deployed.
In the first eight weeks of the year, the airport was closed six times
due to illegal drone activity.
This led to multiple diversions and delays for thousands of passengers.
In a statement, the Department of Transport said that the daa had
placed an order for anti-drone technology with an international
supplier and in the meantime has taken delivery of temporary equipment
and is training its staff on its use.
"This is a sophisticated and powerful piece of technology and needs to
be deployed and operated safely," the department said.
"The daa is engaging with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) on the
approval of the equipment for use in the airport operating environment.
"Daa is also engaging with ComReg in relation to radio spectrum matters
and impact on other spectrum users," a department spokesperson said.
They added that due diligence is necessary from a safety perspective
and has been done in every other State where counter drone technology
has been deployed.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player
to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect
data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them
to load the content.Manage Preferences
Kevin Cullinane, Group Head of Communications at daa, said it would
take a few more weeks to complete the regulatory process.
The intention is, he said, that the system will be in operation for the
summer period.
Mr Cullinane told RTÉ's Drivetime that the technology jams the radio
signal of a drone and sends it back to where it came from. In a serious
situation it could bring down the drone.
He said that he could not discuss the cost of the technology for
security reasons.
However, passengers, guests, daa employees and airline staff can be
reassured that the airport operator has the best possible technology
that has been proven to operate well in UK and European airports, Mr
Cullinane added.
He also said the system was paid for out of daa's own reserves and
reminded people that it is illegal to operate a drone within 5km of any
Irish airport.
"It's reckless, it's dangerous, it's illegal. There are many places in
the country where it is safe to operate a drone - just don't do one at
an airport, or indeed any other sensitive location".
__________________________________________________________________
Read more:
'Weeks' before drone technology operational at Dublin Airport
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers said the
Government has worked with the Dublin Airport operator to quickly
purchase anti-drone technology and to train staff.
"In parallel with that we have a regulatory process under way with the
Irish Aviation Authority and with ComReg so that the counter drone
technology can be safety deployed and all agencies and departments are
working to ensure it can be operational as quickly as possible," Mr
Chambers said.
"It is important we have the safe deployment of counter drone
technology and to ensure it is deployed safety we have to have
satisfaction from the regulators," he added.
Ryanair has called on Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and daa to
confirm that anti-drone equipment will be in place and ready to operate
over the busy Easter holiday period.
"We purchased the anti-drone technology a number of weeks ago and
airport fire officers at Dublin Airport have been trained on how to use
it," a daa spokesperson said.
"We are currently working through regulatory requirements before we are
allowed use it," daa said.
Ryanair described drone-related disruptions earlier this year as
unacceptable.
"Transport Minister Eamon Ryan promised to protect passengers with
anti-drone equipment, so he must now confirm that this equipment is in
place and fully operational at Dublin Airport in advance of the busy
Easter holidays, so that Irish passengers/visitors and their families
will not suffer any more closures/disruptions due to illegal drone
activity at Dublin Airport," a Ryanair spokesperson said.
Aer Lingus said it wants the technology to be deployed as a matter of
urgency, saying that any regulatory requirements to enable this should
be facilitated.
"These urgent steps are required to remove the threat of further
disruption for passengers," an Aer Lingus spokesperson said.