Boston Esplanade Prohibition on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones)

BOSTON —It will be illegal to operate any unmanned aircraft (drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Unmanned Aircraft Systems) in and around the Boston Esplanade during July 3 and 4.

Anyone operating one would be doing so illegally and could face Federal or State charges. The authorization for this prohibition is below.

1. Air Traffic Control (ATC) at Logan Airport in Boston has control of the airspace within eight nautical miles from the airport. All operations are approved and controlled by ATC. Any aircraft, including unmanned aircraft, entering that airspace is required to have permission from Boston ATC prior to entry.

2. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a Total Flight Restriction (TFR) around Fenway Park for the Red Sox games on July 3 and 4, for airspace within three nautical miles of the ballpark beginning an hour before each game and ending an hour after each game. The TFR contains specific language prohibiting remote controlled and unmanned aircraft; violations of that TFR carry possible federal criminal penalties. The esplanade event is well within the Fenway Stadium TFR limits during the Red Sox games. Thus, to operate any unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of the Esplanade would require a Certificate of Authorization (COA) issued by the FAA.

3. The FAA has advised there are no COAs issued for the Esplanade area and Boston ATC will not allow any UAV/drone operation in that area during the events of the 3rd and 4th.

For these reasons, it will be illegal to operate any unmanned aircraft (drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Unmanned Aircraft Systems) in and around the Boston Esplanade during July 3 and 4. Anyone operating one would be doing so illegally and could face federal or state charges.

http://www.wcvb.com/news/prohibition-on-unmanned-aerial-vehicles-drones/33768900