---
title: "Oklahoma Air Force base warns drone owners: Do NOT fly near base"
description: Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma asks drone owners not to fly near base after aircraft has near collision with recreational drone.
---

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# [Oklahoma Air Force base warns drone owners: Do NOT fly near base](https://www.airsight.com/en/news/oklahoma-air-force-base-warns-drone-owners-do-not-fly-near-base)

 Written by [Callie Miller](https://www.airsight.com/en/news/author/callie-miller) | Jan 22, 2018 3:30:00 PM

Officials at a northern Oklahoma air force base are [asking the public to keep recreational drones away from aircraft ](http://kfor.com/2018/01/18/oklahoma-air-force-base-issues-warning-to-drone-pilots-after-near-collision/)after a near collision on a training flight.

Lt. Col. Eric Schmidt works at Vance Air Force Base. He told the Enid News & Eagle that an aircraft on a Jan. 9 training flight came within about 50 feet of a drone flying at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet.

Schmidt says people who fly drones recreationally often don't realize how dangerous a drone can be to an aircraft. "I'm concerned more about the safety impact to our aircrews than I am about prosecuting illegal drone activity," Schmidt said. "I just want people to understand; if they are flying drones near Vance Air Force Base training aircraft, they are putting lives in danger."

Drone operators need permission to fly within 5 miles of an airport or military airfield, according to Federal Aviation Administration regulations. 

[View full post](https://www.airsight.com/en/news/oklahoma-air-force-base-warns-drone-owners-do-not-fly-near-base)

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