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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW July 4 is a milestone for Medford woman who will become U.S. citizen ... Emergency services ... Helicopter, ground crews stop fire near Central Point homes ... July 4 is a milestone for Medford woman who will become U.S. citizen ... Emergency services ... Helicopter, ground crews stop fire near Central Point homes ... OUR VIEW Our View: Drone flyers, be careful out there Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 3, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Jul. 3, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News A near-collision between a Mercy Flights helicopter and a drone in May was the first such incident reported locally, but it was only one of many nationwide, and that number is, pardon the expression, soaring. It's only a matter of time before some thoughtless hobbyist brings down an aircraft carrying people. In the May 7 incident, the Mercy Flights chopper was on its way to Yreka, Calif., to transport a patient from Fairchild Medical Center. The drone passed within 25 to 50 feet at an altitude of 1,400 feet. That's 1,000 feet above the maximum altitude allowed by Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. New guidelines that will take effect Aug. 29 also bar drones from flying at night, between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise. The Mercy Flights incident happened at 12:10 a.m. The proliferation of drones is a cause of concern to aviation officials, and with good reason. Not only do the craft known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) pose a risk to the lives of pilots and their passengers, they can interfere with vital emergency aviation as well. On June 15, a sheriff's department helicopter out of Reno, Nev., was dropping water on a wildfire in the Sierra when a drone passed just under its nose at about 400 feet elevation. There was no collision and no one was injured, but any such sighting automatically grounds all aircraft, taking them out of firefighting duty. And, as pilot Doug Russell, a Washoe County sheriff's deputy, told the Redding Record-Searchlight, "It might not sound like a big deal, but when you are fighting a fast-moving, 300-acre fire, it could put firefighters' lives in jeopardy." He added, "And if I take that through the windscreen, it kills me." These incidents are increasing as drones grow in popularity. Sightings of drones by manned aircraft rose from less than one a day in 2014 to more than 3 per day between August 2015 and January if this year, according to the FAA. Many of the sightings were from commercial passenger aircraft. Drones may seem like a lot of fun, but this is serious business. And aviation officials can do only so much, mostly after the fact. It may well be that the current regulations will not hold up as more and more people fly drones. One downed aircraft could ground the entire drone industry and the ensuing backlash could keep it grounded. For their own benefit as well as the safety of others, drone users need to follow the rules and play it safe. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 3, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501