Medevac plane encounters drone on approach to Kelowna's airport

Photo: pixabay

A medevac aircraft approaching Kelowna International Airport earlier this month encountered a drone.

During the night of January 15, a Carson Air Ltd. Beech B300 medevac flight from Williams Lake to Kelowna observed a drone passing beneath the aircraft when the plane was on its final approach to the runway, about 200 feet above ground level.

“The tower controller immediately called 911 to notify the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,” said the report on the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System.

YLW's communications manager, Jessica Hewitt, tells Castanet that the airport has strict protocols around drones and that this incident had "no impact" on flights or operations at the airport.

"As part of strict protocols, YLW reports all drone sightings to Nav Canada and are investigated by the RCMP. We recognize these types of events can be cause for concern; however, drone usage laws are strictly monitored and enforced at YLW. These laws help us ensure that we keep people and aircraft safe at all times."

The incident was reported to federal regulators on January 26.

Drones cannot be legally flown within 5.6 kilometres of airports and 1.9 kilometres of heliports without following Transport Canada procedure.

More information and an interactive map of areas you cannot fly drones in Canada can be found here.