What is a “flyaway” incident?

A “flyaway” incident refers to a scenario where an sUAS (small Unmanned Aircraft System) loses control and flies away uncontrollably. This can occur due to various factors, including technical malfunctions, loss of communication with the remote pilot, or interference from external signals. In such cases, the operator no longer has control over the aircraft, which can lead to safety risks, such as crashes, collisions, or even damage to property.

Understanding this concept is critical for ensuring safe drone operations. Operators must be aware of the risks associated with potential flyaways and implement measures such as pre-flight checks, maintaining clear communication, and understanding the limits of their equipment to mitigate these incidents. Other options describe different situations that do not accurately represent what constitutes a flyaway. For example, intentional flights are planned operations, while loss during transport does not involve in-flight control issues, and a drone that flies out of range but returns automatically is operating as designed, rather than experiencing a loss of control.