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Keesler: UAS No Fly Zone

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Travis Beihl
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The holidays are upon us and with them comes the spirit of giving. While presents can be fun some can pose dangers to military installations.
For instance, on Keesler AFB it is prohibited to fly Unmanned Aerial Systems, radio controlled aircraft, or as they are more commonly known, drones, outside. Some drones have the capability to exceed Federal Aviation Administration altitude limitations and can cause severe damage to people, aircraft or property.
“For the safety of the aircraft and operators on the airfield we need to get the word out that radio controlled aircraft are not allowed to operate on base,” said Maj. Joshua D. Pitler, 81st Operations Support Flight commander.

Being careless or reckless with a UAS can result in a fine for endangering people or other aircraft. Luckily, there are plenty of applications and websites that give information if an area is safe for takeoff.

“There are a hand full of different apps that you can download that let you know of airports in your vicinity,” he said. “There are also links online that can populate the no fly zones in your area.”

While drone flight on base is not allowed, there are radio controlled airfields north of Keesler for UAS operators.

“You can go to a park and fly your drone as long as it isn’t within a five mile radius of an airport or military installation,” said Pitler. “There are airfields off of route 53 in Gulfport, there is a radio controlled aircraft club that has a grass strip and flies everything from fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft to various drone sizes as well.”

Flying UAS can be fun and exciting but also potentially dangerous to others if not flown in the proper locations. As drones grow in popularity, so does the responsibility of knowing where to and where not to fly.

For more information and guidance on the operation of UAS visit, www.FAA.gov/UAS/model_aircraft/