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Del Mar pioneers drone rules
Sorry Del Mar, that is not how this works. The FAA has sole authority over the airspace in the USA. And by airspace, it doesn't matter if it's 1/4" or 400' overhead. No municipality can enforce any law contrary to FAA regulations. It's simply not their jurisdiction. It's like the city of del mar making a law against parking on a street in the city of Chula Vista. When you say "local governments can control some aspects", this is true. They can control where pilots can physically lift off, land and control the aircraft from (provided it is public property like a city park). But the moment the aircraft is airborne, the aircraft itself is subject to FAA rules and regulations, not the city of Del Mar. i.e. there is nothing stopping anyone from controlling, taking off and landing on private property while flying over the fairgrounds. If the fairgrounds is full of people then the FAA rules regarding flying over people apply - not the city of Del Mar and not the del mar fairgrounds policy. It's not their airspace to regulate. The FAA will grant a waver to fly over people but the aircraft must have a parachute system so it doesn't fall like rock in the event of a failure. In regards to flying during an emergency, this is also already regulated at the federal level. These local regulations are "feel good" regulations only and have no force of law. i.e. you already can not interfere with emergency aircraft (49 U.S.C. § 46320).— June 16, 2020 9:07 a.m.