Can You Fly a Drone in a National Park?
The national parks may seem like a natural fit for drone enthusiasts due to their gorgeous scenery and majestic wildlife. Drones can capture high-quality footage of some of the most beautiful locations in the United States from positions that couldn’t be reached by photographers otherwise, but they’re prohibited on national park grounds, and there’s an excellent reason for that. The reality is that there are serious drone restrictions in place at these parks in order to protect the scenery and wildlife.
Drone Safety Requirements
As experienced pilots may already be well aware, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that pilots be registered so that they can broadcast identification and location via remote ID. Airborne devices can be incredibly dangerous, and these precautions are in place so that proper action can be taken in the unfortunate event of an accident. These are mandatory requirements for any and all drone flights, including the rare instances where drone flights is allowed within national parks. The FAA also provides the B4UFLY app, which allows pilots to check whether or not they’re in permitted airspace before takeoff.
Places That Do And Don’t Allow Drones.
Public parks, however, are mostly permitted for drone use, though checking with the FAA’s rules is always a good idea before flying. Like national parks, many state parks also have beautiful vistas to capture, and a number of them allow drones as well. Regulations vary from state to state, so make sure to familiarize yourself with the local rules before flying a drone in a state park. Conversely, government buildings, airports, military bases, power lines, schools, crowds/stadiums, and hospitals are all locations that generally prohibit drone use.
Drones are allowed in national parks.
The point of our national parks is to preserve sections of untouched land, apart from industrialized society, where plant and animal life can survive with as little interference from humanity as possible. While there are special use permits for drones in national parks, there is a fee to apply, and applying does not guarantee approval. The noise and visual presence of a drone are disruptive enough to animals and visitors on their own, but the added potential harm a drone could do to those plants and animals makes this a very important restriction for the drone community.
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