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"A small drone helicopter passed within 30ft of the cockpit of an A319 plane while on the approach to Heathrow"

I really dislike the use of the word "drone" here. It really implies something that it's not - in that case it was a helicopter, in most other cases they use that term it's an RC quadcopter.

Unless we're going to start calling everything that's RC a drone.

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'Drone' has become a fad word. But it has a real meaning - an un-manned aerial vehicle. So technically even a model helicopter is a drone. I've resisted using 'drone' carelessly, and always say 'quadcopter' or 'helicopter' or whatever is appropriate.

If "vehicle" does not require cargo capability, even birds are drones. If "vehicle" requires cargo, an RC helicopter (which typically has no cargo) is no drone.

They always feature DJI phantoms as the "example drone" on the beeb - and given that they can fly autonomously, follow waypoints, etc. "drone" is a fair moniker.

Agreed however that not all quadcopters are drones, just as not all drones are quadcopters.

Yes - this is what I'd refer to as a drone, something that can autonomously fly.

It just seems to be being used as a catch all scare mongering term for all RC aircraft though - and given how long they've been around with a perfectly fine track record, it's becoming a bugbear.

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