Quadcopters and drones in restricted airspace

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Keoni Chavarria
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Quadcopters and remote controlled drones can be an entertaining toy, but without knowledge of the rules that come with them, the experience can quickly become unpleasant.

With many flying toys such as kites and remote controlled airplanes, many might get confused on what really defines a drone.

"A drone is any type of flying device that is remotely operated and is not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration," said Senior Airman Hananiah Wiseman, 62nd Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller. "All pilot operated aircraft are given a registration number that is tracked, along with the licensing and insurance."

According to Capt. Steve Young, 62nd OSS airfield operations flight commander, a big problem with drones is the absence of communication with the pilot.

"A lot of these small drones that come into the airspace won't show on the radar and the pilot will not be communicating with us on the radio, so we can't provide our aircraft with any traffic advisories," said Young.

Many rules come with drones, such as flying an aircraft in a restricted airspace such as the airspace over and around McChord Field.

According to Wiseman, McChord Field is classified as a Class Delta Airspace. Everything within a five-mile radius around McChord Field and an altitude of up to 2,800 feet is contained within the airspace.

To enter McChord's airspace, pilots must first establish radio communication with air traffic control.

"This is due to McChord Field's see and avoid separation requirements which essentially means that there are no separation requirements provided by air traffic controllers," said Wiseman. "This could get difficult with an unmanned aircraft."

To be able to fly quadcopters and drones on or over McChord Field, a person would have to get an official waiver from the FAA. The process involves filing a request to the FAA that includes the area of the activity, the altitude, and the purpose.

A waiver is necessary because drones can create hazards for aircraft flying in the area. Drones can come in a variety of sizes and can cause damage to an aircraft that can range from minimal to serious.

"Drones present a huge midair collision hazard," said Young. "It can impact an engine or the aircraft itself, and if it does, it will result in thousands of dollars in damage."

At the moment, there are not many written laws on quadcopters and drones, but there are guidelines to help new users through online communities.

For more information on flying quadcopters and drones or more information on flying over or on restricted airspace, visit www.faa.gov/