Australia’s NEWCASTLE Herald reports that a rescue helicopter and a drone had a near miss above Broadmeadow, a suburb of Melbourne. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the event and will interview the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service crew involved in the incident.
“The helicopter was returning from the John Hunter Hospital about 10pm when it spotted lights at about 1000 feet. Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service spokesman Glen Ramplin said the crew originally thought the lights belonged to a larger aircraft further away. When they realized it was a smaller object nearby, the crew took evasive action to avoid a collision.”
Australian regulations call for model aircraft flights to be kept below 400 feet above ground level (AGL). ATSB will investigate the height of this drone based on Mr. Ramplin’s comment that “we’ve seen quite a few drones around but this one was at quite a height.’’
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