In 2017, under CFR Title 14 Aeronautics and
Space, Part 99 Security Control of Air Traffic,
the FAA established locations across the U.S.
where UAS operation is prohibited within
400 lateral feet of specific facility boundaries
due to national security considerations. The
security sensitive locations are identified by the
federal agency with responsibility for the site,
and the FAA takes the regulatory action to
preclude UAS operations. For military
locations, the FAA and DoD determined that
operation of a UAS near the boundaries of
specific military facilities would impact national
security interests. There were 133 DoD
facilities originally included on the list, with
additional sites added periodically. Drone
operators violating the identified airspace may face civil penalties and / or criminal
charges.
Picacho Peak Stagefield and Silverbell Army Heliport are both on the FAA list of DoD
facilities where UAS operations are restricted. Florence Military Reservation and the
Rittenhouse Training Site are not included on the FAA list of DoD facilities where UAS
operation is restricted within 400 lateral feet of the facility boundaries. However,
operating a UAS within the restricted airspace over FMR without prior authorization is a
violation of FAA regulations. As discussed later in this section, there are three areas of
restricted airspace over FMR. Finally, operating a UAS within five miles of an airport /
heliport requires prior authorization from air traffic control. In 2017 the military also
adopted policies that allow military installations to counteract drones that are operating
illegally and violating military airspace. The exact tactics installations are authorized to
employ and under what conditions, are not made public.
The DoD is required to use special use airspace (SUA) to operate UAS. These areas
include:
Restricted Areas (RA)
Warning Areas
Military Operations Areas
Prohibited Areas
Controlled Firing Areas
National Security Areas
Background Report
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