FAA Bans Use Of Drones Near New Mexico Hot Air Balloon Event

The use of drones, by the military and law enforcement, as well as by the public, has quickly become an important topic of discussion in the news today. When it comes to private use, two of the most common concerns are safety and privacy, and the Federal Aviation Administration has just made a decision in support of the former in choosing to ban the use of all drones at this year's Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Organizers of the hot air balloon show have recently confirmed that this year's event, scheduled from October 4-12, will be protected by a temporary flight restriction issued from the FAA, preventing the use of drones within a four-mile area around the balloons' launch space. Event director Don Edwards says the use of drones simply poses too much of a safety risk, with there already being enough distractions for the some 550 balloon pilots in close proximity to each other.

This marks the first year the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has had to take such a hard stance on drone usage. Organizers say last year they received only a few requests to fly the unmanned devices, which were all declined, but one uninvited drone still flew into the restricted airspace, prompting federal authorities to make a visit to the local pilot's home. With many more requests made this year, it was decided that the ban on drones needed to be made clear, and well-known beforehand.

With drones proven to be useful in getting amazing footage from otherwise inaccessible areas, or showcasing overhead views of outdoor crowds ranging from sporting events to public protests, it seems unfortunate that they can't be utilized during such a picturesque scene as a hot air balloon launch. But with the FAA recently granting permission to Hollywood for using drones on movie sets, it's not all bad news and restrictions when it comes to unmanned flying cameras.

SOURCE Mashable