Drone pilot discusses recent reported sightings

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Since our story on reported drone sightings on Friday, several other mysterious drone sightings across western Massachusetts have been reported to our newsroom and some viewers even claim that they saw drones flying near local airbases.

“I took my dog out last night. I just looked up at Mount Tom in the sky and instantly I was like, “Oh, what is that thing flying in the sky?” asked one Easthampton resident.

In recent days, unidentified drones have been spotted across the country and since Western Mass News first brought you the story Friday when we spoke to one anonymous woman out of Easthampton, several other viewers have come forward claiming they have also seen the mysterious drones.

After hearing several concerns from viewers, we decided to take our questions to an expert and we spoke with Christopher Rinaldi, owner of West Mass Drones, who said none of the videos he’s seen of these alleged drone sightings seem credible. “It’s probably just a lot of people looking up into the sky and noticing things that they don’t typically have their heads tilted upwards looking at,” he said.

Several social media posts also claim that some of these unidentified drones have been spotted near both Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee and Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield. Rinaldi said, depending on the drone you have, it may not even be possible to fly in those areas. “Some of the drones are locked out the closer you get to the Air Force bases, especially the closer you get to the approach zones,” he explained.

Rinaldi said it is possible to fly in those areas, but it’s highly unlikely the bases wouldn’t know about it, which is something he knows from experience. “I was doing a low altitude job outside of Barnes one time and they had the police there in maybe five minutes after I took off. All the paperwork was in order and everything else, but they were very vigilant and I think they had the capability to find out where you’re coming from,” he added.

Western Mass News did reach out to both Barnes and Westover for comment and have not yet heard back.