Working With Air Mobility Command To Explore Limited Hobbyist Drone Use

A year ago, MacDill Air Force Base Commander Col. April Vogel banned the recreational use of drones on the base following an Air Force Directive to develop policies for hobbyists to fly their aircraft. But now, base officials are considering loosening the outright ban.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that base officials are working with the Air Mobility Command to see if any airspace at the base can be opened to recreational drone flights.

Col. Vogel's ruling was followed by a Pentagon-wide effort to prohibit drone flights over military bases, going so far as to allow any such aircraft to be brought down. In April, the FAA issued a ban on flights over 133 military installations citing national security concerns. McDill is on that list.

Currently, anyone wishing to fly a drone within five miles of MacDill must seek permission 48 hours in advance. Base rules also prohibit any still or video images of any part of the base from being recorded. A violating drone may be interfered with by electronic means or physically  brought down, disabled or destroyed.

Base officials have not set any timeline for a review of the policy banning drone flights by hobbyists on the base.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Report