Drones, planes, or helicopters? How to spot the difference
NEW YORK (PIX11) – Reported increases in drone sightings across New York and New Jersey have many questioning unknown lights in the sky. Now the Federal Aviation Administration is helping provide answers.
The FAA has released a guide explaining how to identify lights on drones from other common aircraft.
Small airplanes can be identified by wing-tipped lights that are typically red on one side and green on the other. They also have white strobe lights and a flashing beacon on the tail, according to aviation experts.
Large airplanes have similar lighting and may additionally have landing lights on when descending toward an airport. Helicopters also have red and green lights on the fuselage, below the aircraft.
Drones have strobe lights, oftentimes two red and two green, that are visible for at least three miles. They may also have additional lights so that pilots know which way the drone is pointed.
“We have experienced cases of mistaken identity, where reported drones are, in fact, manned aircraft or facilities,” said the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a joint statement last Thursday.
FBI officials say they have received more than 5000 calls regarding unknown flying drones, only 100 of which have been deemed credible. After further inspection, the confirmed drone sightings have not been deemed malicious by authorities.
The FAA says flying drones is legal in most locations but there are rules. Pilots can operate drones in most locations below 400 feet.
Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.