Global drone manufacturer, DJI, has offered to help the various authorities that have been investigating the recently reported drone problems that have caused millions of pounds-worth of cancellations, grounding thousands of flights and stranding countless people during the festive period at London’s Gatwick Airport.

DJI, who has admitted that it has no solid independent confirmation of what has actually gone on at Gatwick, or what type of drone might be involved in what was one of the worst peroids at the airport in recent memory, the company has stated that it is prepared and willing to offer technical assistance and comply with appropriate requests from law enforcement and aviation regulation officials.

Whilst the vast majority of drone pilots fly safely and responsibly, DJI is firmly opposed to any attempt by anyone to deliberately operate drones with the intention to cause harm. The reported incident at Gatwick emphasises the requirement for systems to help enforce the laws against deliberate misuse of drones.

In a statement issued by DJI after the recent interruptions, the market-leading drone manufacturer stated that, ‘aviation authorities should strongly consider several steps to help build a modern framework for managing the potential for drone interference, including mandatory ‘Remote ID’ systems to identify and monitor airborne drones, which require all drones to transmit the location of the drone and its pilot in real time, as well as an identification code. Governments should also consider authorising systems to directly counteract drones in extreme situations, with appropriate precautions to ensure it can be done safely and responsibly.

DJI itself has developed a working Remote ID system called AeroScope, which provides location and serial number information for DJI drones to law enforcement, national security and aviation safety officials. AeroScope has been deployed at airports, stadiums, large public gatherings and high-security locations around the world, where it provides actionable information to authorities who can respond to drone incidents as they happen and investigate further after an incident has concluded. DJI calls on other drone manufacturers to also implement Remote ID systems in their products as soon as possible, even if it is not yet required by law.

DJI also supports reasonable registration and education requirements for drone operators. DJI has led the industry in creating its Geospatial Environment Online [GEO] system of GPS-based geofencing, which warns drone pilots not to fly near airports and other sensitive locations, and can stop them from flying there without authorization. In the UK, the United States and several other countries, the DJI Knowledge Quiz requires pilots to correctly answer questions about drone safety before they can fly their drones.