A321
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Aircraft; Human Factors
I believe that this situation could have been avoided with an increase in the knowledge requirements to operate an unmanned aircraft. Drones near misses are becoming more common and I feel that an emphasis should be made on keeping a vigilant scan outside the cockpit.
I strongly believe that if an aircraft were to depart off of 17R/17C on the HRPER3 it would have been on a collision course with the Drone. The proximity of this drone in regards to our aircraft was and is unsettling. My best guess was that they were using this drone to get as close to the aircraft as they could and take video footage of the planes on the departure. Not sure how to correct this problem but the size of this drone could have caused quite a bit of damage to our engine/wing/windshield. Possibly; could the FAA create better public awareness in regards to operating drones? Possibly require drones to have a MODE C if operating above 500 ft? Something needs to be done with this drone problem because after today; I feel like we (as a society) are waiting on the when; not if; an aircraft will be put in an emergency situation due to a drone strike.
An Air Carrier pilot reported a NMAC with a Drone.