Up in the sky! It's a bird? It's a crewed aircraft? It's a drone?: How to Spot a Drone According to SIA’s Counter-UAS Working Group
/Have you ever found yourself gazing up at the sky, much like the civilians in a Superman cartoon, eagerly trying to spot a drone soaring overhead? That feeling of wonder and curiosity as you search for that unreachable flying machine can be both exhilarating and a little surreal.
Thanks to guidance from the Security Industry Association (SIA)'s Counter-UAS Working Group, you can now more effectively identify drones or uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).
In a recent blog post titled "How to Spot a Drone: Guidance from Experts in SIA's Counter-UAS Working Group," the association's Counter-UAS Working Group provides important tips and tricks for identifying drones. We are also proud to announce that our Founder, Mark Schreiber, is a member of this prestigious group.
The article included the group's top three tips for making it easier for the general public to identify these aircraft. These tips include:
(1) Using Visual Cues: Aircrafts or drones typically have two strobes. There is usually a red light on the left wing and a green one on the right. However, most commercial quadcopter drones have two red and two green. Therefore, when trying to identify an object as a drone, look for the strobes and also consider viewing the unknown object with lowlight filtering binoculars as this should also help.
(2) Utilizing Flight Trackers: Numerous commercial flight trackers and night sky guides are at your disposal to help you discern whether the object soaring above is a plane on an approved flight path or if the twinkling lights are simply planets or stars in an exceedingly clear night sky.
(3) Listening out for Noise: According to insights from the Public Broadcasting System, drones generally produce quieter sounds but emit higher-pitched buzzing noises, in contrast to the roar of jet engines or propellers. When an object is flying close enough to be heard, this auditory information can assist in identifying what is soaring above.
Therefore, as you embark on your journey to identify the potential threat, remember that just like Superman, you have powerful resources and knowledge at your disposal. Armed with these tips, you should be well-equipped to start navigating the skies in search of any drones with the proper level of confidence.
For more help identifying UASs or drones, visit:
To learn more about SIA's Counter-UAS Working Group, visit:
