Using data from an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADSB) aggregator, a custom data-mining program was developed to identify all manned aircraft below 500′ AGL within 5 miles of the KSNA airport on six specific days in 2018–2019. The data (a spot check) show that several of the zero-foot grids are well outside of the traffic pattern, with no manned aircraft below 500′ AGL for at least a mile. Detailed maps showing all the traffic on those days are overlaid on the KSNA UAS facility map for comparison. This data-driven safety analysis is outlined as a new paradigm for drone safety near airports, which can be applied worldwide.
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) and Manned Traffic near John Wayne Airport (KSNA) Spot Check of the SUAS Facility Map: Towards a New Paradigm for Drone Safety Near Airports
