Cites Federal Laws Prohibiting Most Uses Of Aircraft In Parks

The National Park Service is telling small UAV operators who want to bring their aircraft into Yosemite National Park to leave their aircraft at home. But they don't city safety issues. The ban is due to noise.

Park officials say the number of amateur-flown UAVs in the park has increased sharply in recent years, largely brought in by people wanting to get images and video of climbers and get other views above the treetops in the iconic park.

Television station KNTV reports that, according to the Park Service, the aircraft can be "extremely noisy and can impact the natural soundscape" at Yosemite.

Federal laws prohibit “delivering or retrieving a person or object by parachute, helicopter, or other airborne means, except in emergencies involving public safety or serious property loss, or pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit” in National Parks.

So for now, the bottom line is if you're going to a National Park, at least Yosemite, you should leave your drone at home.

FMI: www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/2.17