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A dramatic event unfolded in the skies over Ottawa on the afternoon of May 25 when two pilots — one from WestJet Airlines Ltd., one from Air Canada — reported seeing a drone that was flying too close for comfort on their descent into the city’s airport. In response, two CF-18 fighter jets under the direction of NORAD were scrambled to investigate and track down the errant drone.

Two-and-a-half weeks later in Winnipeg, police were called to the city’s airport after a drone flew within 25 metres of a landing plane. In both cases, the drone and its operator were never found.

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These drones can pose a very serious hazard and the numbers have been increasing.

The number of drone sightings near airports has grown exponentially as recreational unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have exploded in popularity. Transport Canada investigated six drone incidents in 2013, according to Transport Minister Marc Garneau, but that number rose to 61 in 2014 and 97 in 2015.

The increasing safety threat prompted the minister to launch a safety campaign last week, including “No Drone Zone” signs that will be distributed to airports and other places where it is unsafe or illegal to fly unmanned aircraft. Transport Canada is also in the midst of developing new regulations for drone use that should be announced by early 2017, Garneau said.

The Canadian UAV industry, which is thriving under the country’s relatively permissive existing rules, is cautiously supportive of having new regulations. However, industry players warn that a crackdown on recreational users could inadvertently suffocate the tremendous growth potential of commercial drones and are urging the government to invest in testing that could open up UAV use to a whole new array of sectors.