RUNWAY PAVEMENT INSPECTIONS USING DRONE - SAFETY ISSUES AND ASSOCIATED RISKS

: The increase in drone use over the last few years, as well as a wide range of their applications, has lead to the need to understand and manage safety risks emerging from drone operations, especially in those environments in which drones may influence air traffic in progress. Considering the fact that generally risk represents the effect of uncertainty on objectives, it is important to previously observe possible objective-related effects, that is, to assess the risks which may emerge from the objective being set. The present paper, therefore, aims at identifying, by applying Reason’s accident causation model to four different scenarios, possible safety risks of the project of drone application in a runway inspection. Based on the identified risks, and also by using a detailed SWOT analysis, the importance of the implementation of this new drone technology for airports has been demonstrated and defined. The paper ends by suggesting a number of preventive measures which should be implemented in successful risk management.