Can you fly over military bases that don't have a helipad or airstrip?

beachcombing · Nov 21, 2016

Yes. Also check out the AirMap app or website.

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George Templeman · Jan 8, 2017

The Editor said:
Only with permissions in place.
I have done RAF Cranwell but that took a lot of planning, red tape and going up and down the food chain of command to get the job done.
It also took some juggling with the tower since timings and slots needed to be critical (fighter jets going in and out).
I was also limited to 200ft ceiling but that wasn't a problem for the footage and shots I needed.
One last thing - I couldn't use a DJI platform since it was an active military base and so was Geo Fenced and didn't want the faff or embarrassment of not being able to fly if Geo unlock didn't work properly so I used another platform.
So in answer to your question - Only with very strict permissions in place, risk assessments signed off and possibly uprated insurance cover (depending on what you currently carry)
If you are doing it as hobby/fun - no chance!

Now going off topic, would be interested in have a discussing about the procedure you had to go through for Cranwell. I am about to undertake a ground based 3D laser survey at Marham for construction work going on there. Creating a 3D model. I would like to supplement the data with an aerial survey. Max 8-10min flight max 50m altitude,I can imagine the process is possibly not worth the effort. (Aircarft is I1 Pro, PfAW holder)

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notoriouskeef · Jan 10, 2017

I was stationed at Hickam Hawaii for 3 years. Do not try it lol. If you are dead set on getting base photography 1. odds are it will NEVER happen, 2. If for some reason you were granted a miracle you would surely have an escort with you. You are in Hawaii!!!! you have so much beautiful scenery anyway!

enigmamdw · Jan 17, 2017

Airmap.io will show restricted airspace that isn't necessarily tied to an airfield. A "military" boneyard isn't necessarily a navy base, in fact it's very unlikely that it is. Are talking about the one in The San Fran Bay? It isn't a base.

dmanisgnarly · Jan 18, 2017

Short answer- No!

Rclbud · Jan 18, 2017

I think the rules are rediculous. If we are limited to four hundred feet then limit planes and helicopters to 1000 feet min. And we will have 600 feet of separation... it's a crap rule. No plane flys at 400' unless they are crop dusting or landing with half a mile of an airport. Not five miles.

enigmamdw · Jan 19, 2017

Military planes routinely practice adverse and alternate landing sequences. Switch runways on the fly, conduct UAV testing and practice creating GPS denied environments. I wouldn't WANT to fly over or around one.

Helicopters routinely ignore all floors and buzz around neighborhoods at 100ft or less.

Before you ask how I know this, well, I'm in the military, and have been stationed on several airbases.

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iFlyForFun · Feb 9, 2017

Once I get my Mavic( tomorrow) I intend to call before I fly. My experience with General Aviation has been fantastic. I hope that in SOME instances when flying my Mavic I may find authorities or ATC willing to work together with me.

I fly my private aircraft in one of the
busiest areas in the country. I am always flying up the Hudson River and around the Statue of Liberty. This requires nothing special except to self announce on frequency. When I take off on runway 24 from oldbridge NJ heading south I have never been refused permission to fly over MCGuire Air Force Base. I've flown up the garden state parkway thru Newark Class B airspace and permission has always been given.

I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best!

AlanTheBeast · Feb 9, 2017

Exception said:
None of these responses really address the OP original question about flying over a Military bases that don't have a helipad or airstrip

Country by country - find out what is off limits.

In Canada the stated rule is for any military base and does not distinguish about its airstrip capability.

Canada and the US seem to have great heaps of grey in the rules. One should be careful about what shade of grey one is willing to go up against.

To be sure, many military bases look little different than a run down college town and often have gobs of square km of open/forested spaces that are not likely to be hiding the greatest secret weapon since the dual-formettigating-fwable-freeber, Mk III mod A, but the rule is the rule. I see it as akin to the "don't overfly prisons" rule. Don't do it.

AlanTheBeast · Feb 9, 2017

iFlyForFun said:
Once I get my Mavic( tomorrow) I intend to call before I fly. My experience with General Aviation has been fantastic. I hope that in SOME instances when flying my Mavic I may find authorities or ATC willing to work together with me.

I fly my private aircraft in one of the
busiest areas in the country. I am always flying up the Hudson River and around the Statue of Liberty. This requires nothing special except to self announce on frequency. When I take off on runway 24 from oldbridge NJ heading south I have never been refused permission to fly over MCGuire Air Force Base. I've flown up the garden state parkway thru Newark Class B airspace and permission has always been given.

I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best!

I've flown all over the Canada and US and US ATC are the most flexible and most willing to accommodate anyone at any time conditions permitting. I haven't requested entry into military airspace, but had an almost puzzled "why'd you bother" response when I gave a position report to Pease AFB one day (I didn't like their runway aiming at me - no telling what 21 YO Lt in an F-16 was about to TO) while flying from Lawrence towards Portsmouth. I was about 2 NM outside their CZ.

Canadian ATC were (in the day) rigid tight *** bitches. Hope they've softened a bit.

It's like Canadians want to deny wherever possible and the Yanks want to permit wherever possible unless there is damned good reason not to.

/Rant.

m0j0 · Mar 4, 2017

Cookedinlh said:
It's no false report when you have to take evasive action. News is reporting it both ways . . . pilot said "at first thought it was a balloon" but they are reporting it as a drone as of about 6pm today . . . we'll see what evolves . . .Over the past 2 weeks, I've reviewed every incident report this year and it's not exaggerating to say there are hundreds of Drone incidents as close encounters with civil aviation (at least 400+ since Jan 2016) . . and many between 2000-9000ft . . . in controlled airspace . . . not to mention the ones on "final approach" at Vancouver, Vancouver Harbour, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.

I'm all for freedom of the skies . . . but there is no excuse for being above 300ft without a clearance. . . none.

Hundreds of reports .. not verified

Srisport · Mar 5, 2017

iFlyForFun said:
Once I get my Mavic( tomorrow) I intend to call before I fly. My experience with General Aviation has been fantastic. I hope that in SOME instances when flying my Mavic I may find authorities or ATC willing to work together with me.

I fly my private aircraft in one of the
busiest areas in the country. I am always flying up the Hudson River and around the Statue of Liberty. This requires nothing special except to self announce on frequency. When I take off on runway 24 from oldbridge NJ heading south I have never been refused permission to fly over MCGuire Air Force Base. I've flown up the garden state parkway thru Newark Class B airspace and permission has always been given.

I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best!

I am travelling to New York in April and even though i will have my drone with me, i wasn't expecting to have the opportunity to fly it because of the airports which surround manhattan,

What airports did you contact when flying round the statue of liberty and if i was to phone what exactly do i need to say on the phone to them? where else have you flown around New York, in particular the Manhattan area?Apologise for my useless terminology etc... I'm new to flying drones and i don't hold any flying licences and will only intend to fly for fun with my mavic.

Regards.

AlanTheBeast · Mar 5, 2017

Srisport said:
I am travelling to New York in April and even though i will have my drone with me, i wasn't expecting to have the opportunity to fly it because of the airports which surround manhattan,

What airports did you contact when flying round the statue of liberty and if i was to phone what exactly do i need to say on the phone to them? where else have you flown around New York, in particular the Manhattan area?Apologise for my useless terminology etc... I'm new to flying drones and i don't hold any flying licences and will only intend to fly for fun with my mavic.

Regards.

I'm far from an expert on US drone rules for various airspace but the SofL is not in class C airspace at a quick glance. It may fall under a national park restriction, however.

You would also be very close to the 5 mile limit from Newark. You could try calling the tower - my impression is they are far too busy to want to talk to you and the controller who answers would likely say that if you're outside their 4 NM class C then he couldn't give a rats *** what you do.

What you say is " Requesting clearance to fly a drone in a radius of ______ from the statue of liberty at or below 400 from 16:00 to 18:00 local time. I will be outside the 4 NM class C of Newark at all times but closer than 5 miles. " At which point he may very likely say, "then it's outside my zone, have fun." and hang up or he might ask questions.

The NY helicopter chart is a good reference and you might print that area out and bring it with you.

It shows helicopter routes that fly very close to the SofL. Ironically, even below 400' you may not enjoy that privilege (national park). I suggest you call ahead.

It may be legal to fly around it as long as you takeoff and land from off of park land. I'm far from sure about this. On river side (NJ) you're good to 500' above sea level (but drone's are limited to 400' - and you're pretty much at SL). On the statue side you're good to 1299' - but again - restricted to 400'.

Srisport · Mar 5, 2017

AlanTheBeast said:
I'm far from an expert on US drone rules for various airspace but the SofL is not in class C airspace at a quick glance. It may fall under a national park restriction, however.

You would also be very close to the 5 mile limit from Newark. You could try calling the tower - my impression is they are far too busy to want to talk to you and the controller who answers would likely say that if you're outside their 4 NM class C then he couldn't give a rats *** what you do.

What you say is " Requesting clearance to fly a drone in a radius of ______ from the statue of liberty at or below 400 from 16:00 to 18:00 local time. I will be outside the 4 NM class C of Newark at all times but closer than 5 miles. " At which point he may very likely say, "then it's outside my zone, have fun." and hang up or he might ask questions.

The NY helicopter chart is a good reference and you might print that area out and bring it with you.

It shows helicopter routes that fly very close to the SofL. Ironically, even below 400' you may not enjoy that privilege (national park). I suggest you call ahead.

It may be legal to fly around it as long as you takeoff and land from off of park land. I'm far from sure about this. On river side (NJ) you're good to 500' above sea level (but drone's are limited to 400' - and you're pretty much at SL). On the statue side you're good to 1299' - but again - restricted to 400'.

Thank you again for your helpful suggestions, my initial idea was to take off from New Jersey, circle the SofL for some nice aerial video and land again. I only intend to capture footage for personal use, more of a keep sake and memories but from what I've read and looking at the maps in the link you provided, i don't want to be involved in a near miss or cause any alarm for local people. I certainly don't want my drone to be confiscated by the police seeing as these things aren't exactly cheap to begin with.

regards.

AlanTheBeast · Mar 5, 2017

Srisport said:
Thank you again for your helpful suggestions, my initial idea was to take off from New Jersey, circle the SofL for some nice aerial video and land again. I only intend to capture footage for personal use, more of a keep sake and memories but from what I've read and looking at the maps in the link you provided, i don't want to be involved in a near miss or cause any alarm for local people. I certainly don't want my drone to be confiscated by the police seeing as these things aren't exactly cheap to begin with.

regards.

I think the best thing you can do is phone the SofL park rangers and ask them.

Srisport · Mar 5, 2017

AlanTheBeast said:
I think the best thing you can do is phone the SofL park rangers and ask them.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards.

Spyd3r · Mar 5, 2017

I'm active duty in the US Army stationed at Ft. AP Hill, Virginia... Our base, which is rather small, has signs posted at the gate that says no drones allowed. You must get clearance to fly over military installations. Most now have UAS units stationed at them, a lot of have drop zones, a lot have impact ranges for artillery and mortars and helos practice at all bases. A grass field is a helipad to helos and they routinely fly at treetop level... For the sake of not causing an incident, making all of us look like *****, being fined tons of cash, and going to prison, I recommend you get permission or forget it.