Drones could soon be banned from flying 200 ft above homes
- 5 years ago
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Mike Lee from Utah introduced a bill in Congress on October 16 to give property owners, state authorities and Native American tribes the right to regulate their airspace.
The Drone Integration and Zoning Act is seeking to transfer airspace authority beneath 200 feet from the Federal Aviation Administration to local authorities, reports the Hill.
Drones flying in airspace above 200 feet would still be under the authority of the FAA.
The bill would essentially allow property owners and lander owners to own airspace up to 200 feet above their land in which low-flying drones would be prohibited from operating unless they have permission.
Currently the FAA allows drones to operate at or below 400 feet.
According to the Hill, Senator Lee had sponsored a similar bill in 2017, called the Drone Federalism Act. The bill failed to make it through its congressional committee.
The FAA had previously stated in a 2015 factsheet that separate local and state jurisdiction over airspace would create a "patchwork quilt" and could severely limit the FAA in its ability in controlling the airspace and ensuring a safe and efficient traffic flow in the air.
The Drone Integration and Zoning Act is seeking to transfer airspace authority beneath 200 feet from the Federal Aviation Administration to local authorities, reports the Hill.
Drones flying in airspace above 200 feet would still be under the authority of the FAA.
The bill would essentially allow property owners and lander owners to own airspace up to 200 feet above their land in which low-flying drones would be prohibited from operating unless they have permission.
Currently the FAA allows drones to operate at or below 400 feet.
According to the Hill, Senator Lee had sponsored a similar bill in 2017, called the Drone Federalism Act. The bill failed to make it through its congressional committee.
The FAA had previously stated in a 2015 factsheet that separate local and state jurisdiction over airspace would create a "patchwork quilt" and could severely limit the FAA in its ability in controlling the airspace and ensuring a safe and efficient traffic flow in the air.