FAA Posts TFR Around The Event's Launch Field To Prevent Such Flights

The FAA has posted a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) around the launch field of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, which runs through October 12, in an effort to prevent UAVs from operating among the balloons.

The Portland Press Herald reports that the event's organizers said that it was a safety issue for the 550 pilots registered to fly during the nine-day event. Event director Don Edwards said that the balloon pilots don't need the distraction of wondering "what's that little thing buzzing around."

There had been a few requests to fly UAVs during the event last year, which Fiesta organizers declined. But one person did make an unauthorized flight over the restricted airspace last year ... and got a visit from federal authorities.

Edwards said that he is certain that, of the tens of thousands of people who attend the event each year, someone was likely to see if they could bend the rules and get away with a UAV flight. "We'll be watching," he said.

(FAA image)

FMI: http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_0635.html