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Officials: Tinker area is a ‘no fly’ zone when it comes to recreational drones

  • Published
  • By John Parker
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Increasingly more powerful and easier to fly, small recreational drones are soaring in popularity and the skies.

While experienced enthusiasts often join local radio-controlled model aircraft clubs and fly them under Federal Aviation Administration rules, some users may not realize there are places where their new toys are banned from flying. 

Places like Tinker Air Force Base.  

In the first incident of its kind at Tinker, 72nd Security Forces Squadron personnel last month scrambled and detained a person with authorized base access flying a DJI Phantom "quadcopter" near the northwest/southeast runway, said Airfield Operations Flight Commander Capt. Tommy Ackerman.

The model flier told officers he was unaware he was breaking any rules, officials said. He said he was just using the camera-equipped quadcopter for some cool pictures for his personal computer.

It didn't help much. The officers confiscated the quadcopter -- a four-rotor model that can cost around $1,000, depending on accessories -- and the iPad he was controlling it with, officials said. The drone flier is currently facing possible administrative or other legal consequences.

The drone incident led base officials responsible for flight operations, law enforcement and anti-terrorism to get the word out about model aircraft flying to civilians and military members alike. In the simplest terms, as Captain Ackerman put it, "What you need to know before you go is flying these on base is a no-go."

Federal law bars drone and model aircraft flights within 5 miles of military installations and civilian airports. In Tinker's airspace, which is reserved for military planes such as E-3 Sentries and B-52 Bombers, drones the size of the one that flew over Tinker last month could be deadly.

"For us, it's about safety," Captain Ackerman said. "The way that the 13/31 crosswind runway comes around, it's close to base housing, you've got the golf course there, so one of our aircraft could be flying over the golf course and there's a potential of a hit.

"That could be the equivalent of a very large bird strike, so that's our major concern."
It's another kind of safety issue for Keith Carter, the Tinker installation anti-terrorism officer. Unmanned aerial vehicles can be modified to become explosive weapons or spying platforms prying into classified areas.

"UAVs present a possibility for an ulterior motive, which is why people are concerned about them," Mr. Carter said. "Even if you incidentally or accidentally take a picture of something you're not supposed to, there are multiple restricted areas on the flight line. When you fly something like this close to the flight line you're bound to get something that you're not supposed to have."

Special Agent Michael Maziarz, commander of Tinker's Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 114, said laws surrounding drone use are still evolving, but many federal regulations and guidelines dictate how and where remote-controlled model aircraft can be flown.

Since 2013 there have been at least 17 incidents over or near DOD facilities with these types of aircraft, the agent said.

"They create a potential for surveillance and they create a potential for the collection of sensitive information," Agent Maziarz said. "Also, these look like a small aircraft, but the amount of electronics that are on them -- with telemetry and radio frequencies and things like that -- they can cause a lot of interference for airfield operations and what have you."

Captain Ackerman said base operations personnel can answer questions about drone flight rules related to Tinker at 734-2191. Officials encourage anyone seeing a drone flying near Tinker to report it immediately to Security Forces at 734-3737.

"This is definitely a see something, say something, type of incident," Captain Ackerman said.

Things to know before you fly

Becoming the aerial jockey of a remote-controlled aircraft that can fly hundreds of feet high and snap pictures or video of practically anything is as easy as ordering one on the Internet.

Less easily accomplished is finding out what's against the law or unsafe as the owner of an unmanned aerial system, as the FAA calls them. Here are some resources.
· KnowBeforeYouFly.org This website is jointly sponsored by the FAA, the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and other organizations. It lists guidelines for recreational, business and public-entity users.

· Faa.gov/uas/ The FAA's official site on UAS rules and questions.

· Okie-rc.org This site lists more than 30 RC flying clubs in Oklahoma. RC clubs use established flying areas and are generally more familiar with model aircraft rules.

· Current FAA safety guidelines. The aviation agency's safety guidelines include not flying within 5 miles of any airport; not operating near sensitive infrastructure such as power stations, government facilities, etc.; and no surveillance or photos in areas where people have an expectation of privacy.