FAA establish 133 new military airspace restrictions.

Do not drone over these new FAA restrictions, they have warned you! My first thought was that security levels have been upped in response to recent events in Syria.

A FAA spokesman reached out to sUAS News and said,  “The FAA and DoD have been working for several months on an agreement to put these restrictions, which DoD requested, in place. The restrictions are not in response to a specific threat”

We have seen armed civilian drones sadly being used very successful in combat zones. Privately flown drones in the USA outnumber military ones by at least 20:1 now. A dynamic not seen before in times of heightened tensions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established airspace restrictions over 133 military facilities to address national security concerns about unauthorised drone operations. The specific restricted locations are detailed in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) – UAS NOTAM FDC 7/7137, and may be viewed online via an interactive map here.

The Agency is using its existing authority under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) § 99.7 – Special Security Instructions – to establish these restrictions. The relief provided under § 99.7 is limited to requests from the Department of Defense and U.S. federal security and intelligence agencies based on national security interests.

U.S. military facilities are considered “sensitive” as they are vital to the nation’s security. The FAA and the Department of Defense have agreed to restrict drone flights up to 400 feet within the facility’s lateral boundaries. There are only a few exceptions that permit drone flights within these restrictions, and they must be coordinated with the individual facility and/or the FAA. The restrictions are effective on April 14, 2017.

Operators who violate the airspace restrictions may be subject to enforcement action, including potential civil penalties and criminal charges.

For more information about these restrictions, including frequently asked questions, please visit the FAA’s UAS website.