Dangerous Drone Flying

Noah Lewis
Oct 2
3 min read

Recently, an unauthorized drone near San Diego International Airport was spotted flying dangerously close to a landing plane, without clearance. One reporter captured a video of this incident and posted it on YouTube, and it quickly gained popularity among drone operators. (www.youtube.com)

An unauthorized drone in a airport (https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/drone-illegal.html)

So why is this important?

This act violated the rule of 14 CFR Part 73, a rule which deals with restricted airspace. This seemingly random series of words and numbers is a part of the Part 107 License , which is basically just a license for flying drones for money.

How can I learn about these regulations so I don't break the law?

One option is a TRUST Certification, which a lot of new drone operators aren't aware about. The TRUST certification states some of the rules and regulations that are needed to know to fly for fun without breaking laws. The TRUST certification takes around 30 minutes to take (just search up TRUST on google to find it). Even without all of these things, you should probably know not to fly a drone near an airport, where the drone could cause problems.

What is the rule of restricted airspace?

This rule states that you cannot fly in “restricted airspace” or basically where airports and other places such as military bases are, unless you have specific authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

So then how do you get authorization?

You can get this authorization upon special request to the FAA. Still, you should have a pretty good reason to fly, or the FAA will deny your request.

Why does this rule exist?

This rule is here to stop people from having drones crash into airplanes, and either have their expensive drone crash, or crash the plane and kill all the people in it.

How can I check if I am in restricted airspace?

Usually, when you connect to a drone with a phone or a controller, it pulls up a map on your phone where it tells you if you are in restricted airspace or not, and even if you don’t have a map, you could either just google restricted airspace areas near me, or you could just check if there is an airport somewhat close to your house. Generally it would not be a good idea to fly anything near an airport or a place where you could cause problems with your aircraft. For example, you could fly a drone right outside the restricted airspace area of a military base (yes, flying over military bases is prohibited), but would you really like to end up “missing” for a couple of weeks while they question you? Probably not.

What would happen to this person?

Since this person is breaking the law, they could go to jail for a couple of years, and get a hefty fine, which can sometimes range up to $75,000 per violation! To wrap it up, before flying any aircraft, just check where you are. If there is an airport right outside your house, probably don’t fly your drone there.

Sources

“Drone Spotted Near Flight Path at San Diego International Airport.” YouTube, YouTube,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsDTlpZ9Eig. Accessed 12 Sept. 2025.

FAA. “Prohibited, Restricted, and Other Areas.” ENR 5.1 Prohibited, Restricted, and Other Areas, www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aip_html/part2_enr_section_5.1.html. Accessed 12 Sept. 2025.

“FAA Proposed $341,413 in Civil Penalties against Drone Operators.” FAA Proposed $341,413 in Civil Penalties Against Drone Operators | Federal Aviation Administration, www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-proposed-341413-civil-penalties-against-drone-operators. Accessed 12 Sept. 2025.

Noah Lewis is a 10th grader at the white and blue school of Poudre high school. This is his first year in Poudre Press. He is also an avid wrestler, who wrestles year round. Other hobbies he enjoys include mountain biking, collecting sports memorabilia/cards, camping, and playing video games.