FAA LAUNCHES NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION NO DRONE ZONE CAMPAIGN
June 8, 2015
The airspace around Washington, D.C. is extremely restricted by rules put in place after the 9/11 attacks, which establish “national defense airspace” over the area and limit aircraft operations to those with an FAA and Transportation Security Administration authorization. Violators face stiff fines and criminal penalties.
The FAA announced on May 13, 2015 that the Federal rules prohibiting aircraft from operating in the Flight Restricted Zone in and around Washington, D.C. will also apply to unmanned aircraft. In addition to the District of Columbia, the “No Drone Zone” includes cities and towns within a 15-mile radius of Ronald Reagan National Airport. In this zone all unmanned aircraft systems are prohibited. In an effort to help recreational unmanned aircraft operators be aware of the restricted areas, the FAA is developing a GPS-driven smartphone app which will be released later this year.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6665).