How airports and the drone industry are teaming up to protect planes

More than 50 U.S. airports will test a new system to make themselves more aware of drones flying near their runways. Airport executives and the drone industry expect the Digital Notice and Awareness System (D-NAS) to improve safety amid concerns raised by 764 drone sightings near airplanes in 2015. Drone hobbyists are required to notify airports of their plans when flying within five miles of an airport, but doing so has been a difficult process. For one, hobbyists have to track down the appropriate phone numbers. "You don't want to give out air traffic control's phone number on a public website for obvious reasons. Well, how are you going to manage that?" said Steve Runge, division manager of the Houston Airport System's safety and emergency management.