FAA: “No Drone Zone” During Fleet Week

The FAA and the SFPD have declared San Francisco’s 35th annual Fleet Week a “No Drone Zone,” and threaten hefty fines for violators of the ban.

The SFPD issued the following statement:

Fleet Week is a No Drone Zone. To ensure the safety of airshow participants and spectators, there will be a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR), also known as a “no fly zone” in effect within a 5 nautical mile radius around the center point of the airshow, from the surface to 15,000 feet, 1:00-6:00 p.m. on Thursday October 8th, and from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday October 9th through Sunday, October 11th. A fine of up to $10,000 can be levied by the federal government to anyone flying an aircraft, or operating a drone, in the TFR during those hours.

Fleet Week, a celebration of all things military, is a tradition of the US Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard in which recently deployed active ships tour the harbors of major cities.  The celebration includes the traditional parade of ships and ship tours.  A highlight of Fleet Week is the demonstration by the Blue Angels, the US Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, featuring aviators from the Navy and Marines.

It’s these aerial demonstrations that have prompted institution of the No Drone Zone, as the Blue Angels will practice several days before performing their airshow twice during the week.  The center point of the airshow as noted above is just north of San Francisco’s Crissy Field.

As 1,000,000 visitors descend upon San Francisco for Fleet Week, aerial photos of their favorite tourist attractions are out this time around.  “Drones and Fleet Week do not mix,” said Ian Gregor, FAA spokesperson.  The ban follows CA Gov. Jerry Brown’s recent veto of laws criminalizing the flying of drones over emergency areas, schools and prisons.