Eagle-Built Interactive Dashboard Offers Insight Into FAA Data on Drone Sightings

Two years ago, Nathan Scallon was a stay-at-home dad with a degree in mechanical engineering. Preparing to re-enter the workforce, he had his sights set on the field of data analytics.

When Scallon learned about a program called Power BI that could build interactive reports where data could be highlighted and manipulated to provide new insights, he decided he wanted to learn more.

“I spent the next year teaching myself the program, and in June 2024, I was on the lookout for opportunities to practice,” he said.

Nathan Scallon with his wife, Lauren, and their four children: (from left to right) Joseph, 14; Jadzia, 7; River, 4; and Athena, 11. (Photo: Courtesy of Nathan Scallon)

Scallon’s brother, Simeon, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, was working with Dr. Ryan Wallace, professor of Aeronautical Science, on a report that represented drone sightings reported to the FAA since 2014. Provided by pilots, air traffic controllers, citizens and law enforcement, the information in the report represented potentially hazardous drone activity.

Scallon offered to transform the report into an interactive dashboard. What ensued was a months-long interaction between Scallon and Wallace — and an exciting new field of inquiry for Scallon.

“A good data analyst is concerned with the ‘business objective’ of the data, but as I learned more about why the sightings were collected, I got more and more interested in working with the FAA on a matter of public safety,” Scallon said.

He read previous research analyzing the data in the FAA’s report, realizing, he said, “that I was breaking new ground in creating a tool that could analyze the entire comprehensive data set.”

Wallace, who was the principal investigator on a nationwide FAA study of drone traffic published earlier this year, said Scallon’s interactive dashboard “provides the capability for researchers, regulators and other industry stakeholders to better analyze and interpret uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) sighting reports and subsequently better understand how UAS are impacting safety within the National Airspace System.”

Scallon’s dashboard, which he has freely released to the public, allows users to apply filters and search criteria to visually examine specific information about drone sightings, such as location, proximity to airports, altitude, aircraft type, any evasive actions and year-over-year trends.

Scallon cautions that the data represents “a small fraction of the UAS that are actually in the air,” but as a sample set, it can provide valuable insights.

Scallon said a “startling number of drone sightings” were made near and even within the perimeter of airports, which poses a dangerous possibility of collision between UAS and manned aircraft.

Wanting to continue to work with Wallace, Scallon has enrolled in Embry-Riddle Worldwide and is pursuing an MBA in Aviation in the Business Intelligence and Analytics program. He will study remotely from his home in Memphis. He said he has discovered a passion for “taking data and making it ‘sing’ so that meaningful, informed decisions can be made from it.”

Wallace agreed that Scallon has a special affinity for analyzing data.

“Nathan immediately impressed me with his diligence and passion for the project,” Wallace said. “He immediately saw the existing gaps in available information and potential utility of the tool. Nathan’s work on this project, and other related research projects, suggest he has a particularly bright and prosperous career in data analytics ahead.”

Scallon’s ideal job, he said, would be much the same as what he’s been working on with Wallace and would allow him to continue as a devoted parent.

“I want to be able to work remotely with flexible hours so that I can still be there for my kids.”

Access Scallon’s UAS Sightings Report Power BI Tool. Users can navigate among the report elements using the scroll arrows at the bottom of the dashboard.