Marthas Vinyard, TFR pretty draconian

Keep your sUAS and model aircraft in the house should you be within 30nm of Marthas Vinyard later this month.

The following Notam was released yesterday.

It includes catchy bits like this…

Be advised that noncompliance with the published NOTAM may result in the use of force.

For one week the following aviation based activities will be banned.

THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED WITHIN THIS TFR: FLIGHT TRAINING, PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACHES, AEROBATIC FLIGHT,
GLIDER OPERATIONS, PARACHUTE OPERATIONS, ULTRALIGHT, HANG GLIDING, BALLOON OPERATIONS, AGRICULTURE/CROP DUSTING, ANIMAL POPULATION CONTROL FLIGHT OPERATIONS, BANNER TOWING OPERATIONS, MODEL AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS, MODEL ROCKETRY AND UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
(UAS).

All sensible stuff if you are protecting an important person for a week, but will it open the flood gates to ban sUAS and model flying within class A airspace in the USA?

Policing this would be next to impossible, but one over zealous official on a break in town for doughnuts might just make an example of little John and his park flyer.

No RC flying!
No RC flying!

Gary Mortimer

Founder and Editor of sUAS News | Gary Mortimer has been a commercial balloon pilot for 25 years and also flies full-size helicopters. Prior to that, he made tea and coffee in air traffic control towers across the UK as a member of the Royal Air Force.