The FAA recently announced new airspace restrictions on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) flights over national security sensitive locations. The new drone flight restrictions are effective July 11, 2019.
The FAA has been cooperating with federal partners to address concerns about malicious drone operations by using the agency’s existing authority under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 99.7 (14 CFR § 99.7), Special Security Instructions, to establish UAS specific flight restrictions over select, national security sensitive locations.
The U.S. Department of Defense requested restrictions over the following 12 locations:
- Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Adams, PA
- Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, MO
- Pine Bluff Arsenal in White Hall, AR
- Tooele Army Depot in Tooele, UT
- Hawthorne Army Depot in Hawthorne, NV
- Pueblo Chemical Depot in Pueblo, CO
- Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown, IA
- Watervliet Arsenal in Watervliet, NY
- Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, KY
- Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, PA
- Rivanna Station in Charlottesville, VA
- Maui Space Surveillance Site in Maui, HI
Operators who violate these flight restrictions may be subject to enforcement action, including potential civil penalties and criminal charges.
Previously, the FAA has issued drone flight restrictions over locations including U.S. Department of the Interior landmarks, Department of Energy facilities, Federal Prisons, Coast Guard Bases, and other DoD facilities.
