In a press release publicized on Tuesday, the FAA noted, “As the Papal visit approaches, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reminding residents of and visitors to Washington, DC, New York, and Philadelphia that these cities and the surrounding communities are No Drone Zones from September 22 through September 27, 2015”.
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The agency has also expanded restrictions around the nation’s capital to include Potomac Airfield, College Park, and Washington Executive/Hyde Park airports.
“Anyone flying a drone within the designated restricted areas may be subject to civil and criminal charges”, Huerta warned.
Flying a drone anywhere Pope Francis will visit is against the law.
The FAA already has a normal of drone restrictions in place over high security priorities- the president for instance. The pope will also become the first pontiff to address a joint meeting of Congress. So yeah, tight security.
He will then depart for New York, arriving at JFK at approximately 5 p.m. EST.
Under two large, igloo-shaped tents planted in a square near the White House, six Global Catholic Climate Movement activists are fasting for 10 days to raise awareness about climate change and to back Pope Francis’s efforts on the issue. “We are looking forward to a successful visit”.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, police Commissioner Bill Bratton along with the representatives from 50 agencies met Monday to discuss security measures for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to the state.
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The rules make drone operators responsible for avoiding collisions with manned aircraft that are in the same airspace as the devices, and the prohibit drone flights that “fly over people, except those directly involved with the flight”.
