UAV - Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Airspace Structure; Procedure
At the airport in Chamblee; GA; I observed then videoed a person flying a what appeared to be an older model white DJI Phantom drone above tree top level in a small open area 850ft from the 'Charley' helicopter pad (287 degrees magnetic from the pad) and about 500 ft from the approach path of Runway 16 at Peachtree Dekalb Airport PDK. The runway was active and in use by landing aircraft. A student pilot practicing in an R22 flew past the drone while landing on Runway 16 and apparently did not see it. I reported the drone activity to the Tower at PDK by telephone and they were unaware of the drone activity and could not see it from the Tower. The airport police were also notified when it was clear the person did not have permission to operate where he was flying. An R44 Helicopter was also flying over the area and didn't see the drone. This was also a training flight. I spoke to both pilots and neither saw the drone. The helicopter was also off the Charlie helicopter pad. The fact the drone could not be seen by the pilots in the air is what makes this activity so extremely dangerous this close to an airport.
Commercial drone operator reported observing a drone operating in the approach path of PDK airport and causing traffic conflict with aircraft. Tower was notified and made aware of the drone's location.