GPS World

Tag: prisons

  • FAA restricts drones over more DOJ and DOD facilities

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued additional drone flight restrictions over U.S. federal prisons, military bases and Pearl Harbor, effective Feb. 26.

    At the request of its federal security partners, the FAA is using its existing authority under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) § 99.7 — “Special Security Instructions” — to address concerns about drone operations over national security sensitive facilities by establishing temporary unmanned aircraft system (UAS) specific flight restrictions.

    This is in addition to previous restrictions over prisons, NGA facilities, DoD ships and other facilities.

    Information on the FAA Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which defines these restrictions, and all of the currently covered locations, can be found at the FAA’s UAS Data Display System, which provides an interactive map, downloadable geospatial data, and other important details.

    A link to the restrictions is also included in the FAA’s B4UFLY mobile app.

    Additional, broader information regarding flying drones in the National Airspace System, including frequently asked questions, is available on the FAA’s UAS website.

    In cooperation with Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Defense (DOD), the FAA is establishing additional restrictions on drone flights up to 400 feet within the lateral boundaries of the following federal facilities:

    Federal Correctional Institution Allenwood Medium in Allenwood, PA
    Federal Correctional Institution Beaumont Medium in Beaumont, TX
    Federal Correctional Institution Butner Medium I in Butner, NC
    Federal Correctional Institution Butner Medium II in Butner, NC
    Federal Correctional Institution Coleman Medium near Sumterville, FL
    Federal Correctional Institution Florence in Florence, CO
    Federal Correctional Institution Forrest City Medium in Forrest City, AR
    Federal Correctional Institution Hazelton near Bruceton Mills, WV
    Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc in Lompoc, CA
    Federal Correctional Institution Oakdale I in Oakdale, LA
    Federal Correctional Institution Oakdale II in Oakdale, LA
    Federal Correctional Institution Petersburg near Hopewell, VA
    Federal Correctional Institution Pollock in Pollock, LA
    Federal Correctional Institution Terre Haute in Terre Haute, IN
    Federal Correctional Institution Tucson in Tucson, AZ
    Federal Correctional Institution Victorville Medium I in Victorville, CA
    Federal Correctional Institution Victorville Medium II in Victorville, CA
    Federal Correctional Institution Yazoo City Medium in Yazoo City, MS
    Federal Detention Center Honolulu in Honolulu, HI
    Federal Detention Center Houston in Houston, TX
    Federal Detention Center Miami in Miami, FL
    Federal Detention Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA
    Federal Detention Center SeaTac near Seattle, WA
    Federal Medical Center Carswell near Fort Worth, TX
    Federal Medical Center Fort Worth in Fort Worth, TX
    Federal Medical Center Rochester in Rochester, MN
    Metropolitan Correctional Center Chicago in Chicago, IL
    Metropolitan Correctional Center New York in New York City, NY
    Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego in San Diego, CA
    Medical Center for Federal Prisoners Springfield in Springfield, MO
    Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn in Brooklyn, NY
    Metropolitan Detention Center Guaynabo in Guaynabo, PR
    Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA
    Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD
    Fort Gordon near Augusta, GA
    Fort Lee near Richmond, VA
    Holston Army Ammunition Plant near Kingsport, TN
    McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester, OK
    Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Radford, VA
    Joint Base McGuire near Trenton, NJ
    Pearl Harbor Naval Defense Sea Area in Honolulu, HI

    These changes, which have been highlighted by FAA NOTAM FDC [9/2586], are pending until they become effective on Feb. 26. Note that there are only a few exceptions that permit drone flights within these restrictions, and they must be coordinated with the individual facility or the FAA.

    Operators who violate the flight restrictions may be subject to enforcement action, including potential civil penalties and criminal charges.

    The FAA is continuing to consider additional requests by eligible federal security agencies for UAS-specific flight restrictions using the agency’s § 99.7 authority as they are received. Additional changes to these restrictions will be announced by the FAA as appropriate.

  • DJI will unlock geofencing for enterprise drone users

    DJI will unlock geofencing for enterprise drone users

    Streamlined application and 30-minute response improve unlocking process.

    DJI's Matrice 200 drone. (Photo: DJI)
    DJI’s Matrice 200 drone. (Photo: DJI)

    Drone maker DJI is introducing improvements to its geofencing system. Professional drone pilots with authorization to fly in sensitive locations can now use a streamlined application process to receive unlocking codes within 30 minutes.

    DJI’s geofencing system uses GPS and other navigational satellite signals to automatically help prevent drones from flying near sensitive locations such as airports, nuclear power plants and prisons. These improvements are carefully designed to help expand the beneficial uses of drones in sensitive areas that have been restricted in DJI’s geofencing system.

    While those areas will remain restricted to more casual drone pilots, DJI now staffs its global authorization team around the clock in order to process applications and provide unlocking codes quickly.

    Professional drone pilots can apply to unlock restricted zones at www.dji.com/flysafe/custom-unlock. This portal page allows pilots to easily enter information about their aircraft and controller, as well as authorization documents supplied by the controlling authorities in areas where they wish to fly.

    Enterprise users can for the first time include multiple aircraft in a single unlocking request.

    “DJI now processes most requests within 30 minutes, though requests involving unusual circumstances or requiring additional documentation may need additional time,” said Michael Perry, managing director of North America at DJI. “By making it easier for authorized pilots to put drones to work in sensitive areas, DJI is once again showing why professional drone operators choose our aerial platforms for the most important tasks.”

    “DJI first implemented geofencing in 2013, and it is now established as an important tool to help our customers make thoughtful flight decisions, while also addressing legitimate concerns about safety and security by helping prevent unauthorized flights in the most sensitive locations,” said Brendan Schulman, vice president of policy & legal affairs at DJI. “These improvements illustrate DJI’s ongoing commitment as the industry leader to continually improving the safety features we implemented years ago, while enabling beneficial applications for our technology.”

    For more information about how enterprises are using DJI products to work safer, faster and more efficiently, visit enterprise.dji.com.

  • FAA restricts drones over federal prisons, Coast Guard bases

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established temporary unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flight restrictions over federal penitentiaries and U.S. Coast Guard bases.

    The restrictions, which take place June 20, are for drone flights up to 400 feet within the lateral boundaries of the facilities.

    The restrictions came at the request of federal security partners the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

    The FAA is using its existing authority under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) § 99.7 — “Special Security Instructions” — to address concerns about drone operations over these facilities,” the agency stated.

    Information on the FAA Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which defines these restrictions, and the covered locations, can be found on the FAA’s UAS website. Broader information regarding flying drones in the National Airspace System, including frequently asked questions, is also on the FAA website.

    An interactive map, downloadable geospatial data and other important details can be found here.

    A link to the restrictions is also included in the FAA’s B4UFLY mobile app.

    This is the first time the FAA has placed specific flight restrictions for unmanned aircraft over Federal Bureau of Prisons and Coast Guard facilities. The FAA has placed similar flight restrictions over military installations that remain in place, as well as over 10 Department of Interior facilities and seven Department of Energy facilities.

    Operators who violate the flight restrictions may be subject to enforcement action, including potential civil penalties and criminal charges.

    There are a few exceptions that permit drone flights, which must be coordinated with the individual facility or the FAA.

    The FAA is considering additional requests by eligible federal security agencies for UAS-specific flight restrictions using the agency’s §99.7 authority as they are received. Additional changes to these restrictions will be announced by the FAA as appropriate.

    The following facilities will have the new restrictions:

    United States Penitentiaries (USP)

    USP Tucson near Tucson, AZ
    USP Atwater near Atwater, CA
    USP Victorville near Victorville, CA
    USP Florence High near Florence, CO
    USP Florence ADMAX near Florence, CO
    USP Coleman I near Sumterville, FL
    USP Coleman II near Sumterville, FL
    USP Marion near Marion, IL
    USP Terre Haute near Terre Haute, IN
    USP Big Sandy near Inez, KY
    USP McCreary near Pine Knot, KY
    USP Pollock near Pollock, LA
    USP Yazoo City near Yazoo City, MS
    USP Allenwood near Allenwood, PA
    USP Canaan near Waymart, PA
    USP Lewisburg near Lewisburg, PA
    USP Beaumont near Beaumont, TX
    USP Lee near Pennington Gap, VA
    USP Hazelton near Bruceton Mills, WV

    United States Coast Guard (USCG) Bases

    USCG Baltimore Yard, MD
    USCG Base Boston, MA
    USCG Base Alameda, CA
    USCG Base Los Angeles/Long Beach (LALB), CA
    USCG Base Elizabeth City, NC
    USCG Base Kodiak, AK
    USCG Base Miami, FL
    USCG Base Portsmouth, VA
    USCG Base Seattle, WA
    USCG Operations System Center (OSC) near Martinsburg, WV