Bell Helicopter Textron Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90; Flight Crew Total 3375; Flight Crew Type 190
Situational Awareness; Physiological - Other; Distraction
Conflict NMAC
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Airspace Structure
Leaving MJD; I departed parallel Runway 18 and stayed out of and to the west of R-4403. Upon passing R-4403 I turned to a 160 heading and was flying at approximately 750 FT to abide by recommended altitudes as well as stay below a 20 KT headwind that was prevalent at higher altitudes. Shortly after passing R-4403; I noticed two boats maneuvering in a waterway below me. I looked down and then looked back up. As I looked up; I noticed a small drone aircraft with a wingspan of about 5 FT; painted white; flying at about 30 KTS and in the same direction at the same altitude as I was just off to my right and slightly above me. I did not have time to take evasive action since I was traveling at approximately 120 KTS ground speed and overtook it very quickly. There was no transponder on the drone; as it was not showing on the traffic alert system installed in my aircraft.Human Factors: The drone was very small and painted white; blending into the background of the mid morning sky. Where the drone was in my line of sight presented an extremely small to almost non-existent cross section with which to visibly locate and identify it. The lack of a transponder gave no advance warning that there was traffic in my vicinity.Prevention: The drone activity was taking place within 15 miles of three airports and using very small aircraft with no transponder. Equipping the drone with a transponder would present the plane on traffic avoidance equipment. The drone was operating at altitudes where private and commercial aircraft regularly fly. Possibly operating at lower altitudes would lessen the exposure to manned aircraft. The drone was painted white and blended in with the background of the morning sky. A potentially more 'unnatural' paint color or scheme would serve to help visually identify it if there is no transponder on board.
A Helicopter departed MJD and after passing R-4403 at 750 FT had a near miss with a UAV painted white and very difficult to detect against the background.