FAA: reports of worrying drone flights surged last year

Many of the reports are pedestrian, and frequently involve seeing a drone near a conventional aircraft. However, some of the observers note that the drones got uncomfortably close -- in a few cases, just 50 feet away. There aren't reports of collisions with aircraft, but at least one pilot had to change course to avoid an accident. Statistically, the odds of drones creating serious problems are quite low. However, the sightings are only likely to fuel the FAA's belief that it needs to regulate drone usage through registration and no-fly zones. It's doubtful that the agency wants to look complacent if a drone triggers a crash.