CLARK, NJ — A New Jersey drone pilot says most sightings are easily explained, as people have reported mysterious drones in the state for weeks.
It comes as the Federal Aviation Administration extended a temporary ban on drones to many communities in New York And New Jersey.
“In the air it is difficult to judge the size of anything”
John Jacobson, a retired US Army veteran, 9/11 survivor and drone enthusiast, flies his drones several times a week from his backyard in Clark, New Jersey.
“The drones have amazing cameras that allow you to take incredible photos of the world around you from above,” he said.
Jacobson says drones for hobbyists can be easily customized and doubled in size. For example, he added bamboo extensions and cheap LED bulbs from Amazon to his.
“In the air it’s hard to judge the size of anything. If you see lights flashing, it could be any size,” he said.
The drone mystery explained
Jacobson believes most of the drone mystery can be easily explained.
“I would say 95% of all drone sightings are hobby drones, or it’s a case of mistaken identity, or it’s a helicopter,” Jacobson said.
Although New Jersey officials have debunked some rumors about the dronesJacobson still has questions about the remaining approximately 5% percent of observations.
“I think there’s something else going on that we can’t explain,” he said.
So the next time you see a drone in the night sky, chances are someone with a remote control is having a good time somewhere.
