Drone sightings spark questions; drone experts speculate what could be
Edward Kostakis, CEO of Xizmo Media, has been working with drones since 2008.
Drone sightings across the city have sparked widespread curiosity and frustration. Lawmakers are voicing concerns over the lack of clear answers about the activity.
Edward Kostakis, CEO of Xizmo Media, has been working with drones since 2008.
While he admits he can’t provide definitive answers about the situation, his experience offers valuable insight.
“I think the entire situation has shown there needs to be more clarity in the communication between the interagency communications,” Kostakis said.
As the owner of an aerial photography business, Kostakis is familiar with the types of drones being seen.
“This is something sized along the lines of something like a Mini Cooper or a smart car,” he said.
Kostakis explained one notable development is restricted airspace in New Jersey.
“And there has been a TFR up in New Jersey for the past two months which is temporary flight restriction which comes from a military installation,” he said.
He added that flight patterns visible in videos could hint at the drones' purpose.
“It does look like they're flying in a pattern. Typically, when flying in a pattern, typically whenever a drone flies in a pattern, it's more than likely trying to collect data on what's going on on the ground,” he said.
To address public concerns, Kostakis suggested using available tools to verify drone activity.
“I would recommend that anyone who sees a drone in their backyard go onto a flight tracker or one of these websites, like a drone scanner. See No. 1, is there a manned aircraft in that vicinity, and No. 2, is it a drone?” he said.
Kostakis warned that ongoing speculation could lead to panic and tighter regulations.
