The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) related to Section 2209, which focuses on the designation of critical infrastructure and the potential restriction of unmanned aircraft operations around those sites.
This rulemaking stems from legislation passed in 2016 that directed the FAA to develop a process allowing certain fixed site facilities to request restrictions on UAS operations in close proximity to their locations. The newly released proposal outlines how these restrictions, referred to as Unmanned Aircraft Flight Restrictions (UAFRs), could be established, including details on eligibility, size, altitude limits, and duration.
If finalized, the rule could enable a wide range of critical infrastructure facilities across multiple sectors to request FAA designated airspace restrictions. These restrictions could be either part time or continuous and would apply to unmanned aircraft operations within defined boundaries.
The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has been actively engaged on this issue for several years and has consistently shared concerns about how such a framework could impact recreational and educational flying. With the NPRM now published, AMA is beginning a thorough review of the proposal to better understand its potential effects on our members and club flying sites.
We will be analyzing the rule in detail over the next several days and will provide additional information, including potential impacts and opportunities for member engagement, as soon as it becomes available.
AMA remains committed to protecting the interests of the aeromodeling community and ensuring that the voices of our members are represented throughout this process.