Model Aircraft Flying Fields That  Operated Safely For Years Have Been Shut Down Under The Threat Of Civil Penalties

In September of this year, the FAA extended its no-fly zone for drones, known as a Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) from a 15 mile area surrounding Washington, DC National Airport to a 30 mile restricted zone. This restriction applies to drones as well as radio controlled model aircraft.

On December 29, the FAA started taking a more aggressive approach against model aircraft flying fields that have been in operation for years, when it ordered them to close. Many of these fields are located far from the Metropolitan Washington, DC area, but fall within the 30 mile SFRA.

The website, motherboard, reports that the DC area has one of the largest drone hobby organizations, known as the DC Drone Users Group, that operates out of as many as 36 model aircraft flying fields. Christopher Vo, the president of the organization, is quoted as saying that the FAA enforcement action is a “show-stopper.”

Fourteen of the model airfield sites are sanctioned by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), and it’s reported that last week the FAA sent an email to the AMA demanding that it shut these sites down because they are within a 30-mile radius of Washington National Airport.

The motherboard article included the following statement, “We are hearing reports that some individuals may be flying inside the SFRA even though they know it is in violation of the current airspace restrictions,” Brian Throop, manager of the FAA’s special operations security group, wrote in an email to the AMA and several flying sites in the area. “We are asking for your help in spreading the word to the National Capital Region model aircraft community that such activity is subject to enforcement action.”

The AMA reportedly wrote in an email to its members saying, “We have every reason to believe that this is a temporary situation. Persons operating aircraft within the SFRA are subject to civil penalties and or criminal charges.” The AMA added that it is working with the FAA to get special permission for its flying clubs to continue operations.

Christopher Vo is reported as saying, “AMA seems to think that this whole situation will be resolved by mid-January, but we all know how slow things roll at the feds.”

FMI: www.modelaircraft.org