Flying over Grand Canyon allowed?

[leggoreggo]

I know there is alot of threads regarding the drone being illegal at the grand canyon. I just want to make sure, because on the national park website, it says it is illegal to operate, land, or takeoff inside the park. Is it legal to be outside of the park and fly over it? Cause technically its outside so, not sure if anyone has done this and got in trouble or fined. I just want to make sure because im going there at january and want some advice.

P.S: if it is illegal, has there been a thing where I can ask permission within the park to fly the drone. I mean i have a mavic pro its not like its huge like the phantom or inspire. Sorry if im being too stubborn.

 

[Bunny Too]

I know there is alot of threads regarding the drone being illegal at the grand canyon. I just want to make sure, because on the national park website, it says it is illegal to operate, land, or takeoff inside the park. Is it legal to be outside of the park and fly over it? Cause technically its outside so, not sure if anyone has done this and got in trouble or fined. I just want to make sure because im going there at january and want some advice.

P.S: if it is illegal, has there been a thing where I can ask permission within the park to fly the drone. I mean i have a mavic pro its not like its huge like the phantom or inspire. Sorry if im being too stubborn.

Here is a good thread that addresses your question.
Filming National Parks From Outside

 

[leggoreggo]

Here is a good thread that addresses your question.
Filming National Parks From Outside

Thanks alot for that, appreciate it

 

[Superdaddy]

I think you can take-off and land from National Forest and then fly over canyon. I was on the south rim and found a cool tower, open to public, used for fire spotting and flew from there. Not far from park. It is also outside the main visitor areas so unlikely to call attention. Good luck.

They need reasonable rules.

 

[leggoreggo]

I think you can take-off and land from National Forest and then fly over canyon. I was on the south rim and found a cool tower, open to public, used for fire spotting and flew from there. Not far from park. It is also outside the main visitor areas so unlikely to call attention. Good luck.

They need reasonable rules.

oh, well since it is legal i am trying to find a place to take off and fly over the grandcanyon but in the AirMap app they put like a huge radius, which is probably impossible to go over with my mavic. The tower that you mention is it outside but close to grandcanyon, so that it can reach inside or no?

 

[Superdaddy]

It's near the park but in national forest. Google grandview trailhead. On top of tower you are above tree line.

 

[leggoreggo]

It's near the park but in national forest. Google grandview trailhead. On top of tower you are above tree line.

Well, unfortuntely its not allowed its still part of the grand canyon territory, which is bumming, but thanks for the advice, but will see if i can find a way..

 

[Big Fil]

If the Airmap boundries on the park are correct you could possibly drive out to this location down a nearby dirt road and do a small hike to this location.

35.972622826, -111.95655427

I'm not sure who's property that falls on as far as ownership, but that is about the closest I can see that is outside of the park that wouldn't be a problem for a Mavic to get to the canyon. It's about 0.5 miles flight from that location to the edge of the canyon.

 

[leggoreggo]

If the Airmap boundries on the park are correct you could possibly drive out to this location down a nearby dirt road and do a small hike to this location.

35.972622826, -111.95655427

I'm not sure who's property that falls on as far as ownership, but that is about the closest I can see that is outside of the park that wouldn't be a problem for a Mavic to get to the canyon. It's about 0.5 miles flight from that location to the edge of the canyon.

This could work, its like right at the edge, will try, thanks for this, also another question have flown at this area before?

 

[rydfree]

Many many tourist helicopter flights in , around and above the canyon . It really wouldn't matter where you actually took off from if you disrupted one of those flights .

 

[finlayson]

If the Airmap boundries on the park are correct you could possibly drive out to this location down a nearby dirt road and do a small hike to this location.

35.972622826, -111.95655427

Just a FYI (to save time): When quoting GPS coordinates, you usually don't need to give more than 5 numbers after the decimal point. 5 numbers after the decimal point already gives you a resolution of about 1 meter, which is better than the accuracy of all consumer GPS receivers.

So, in this case, you could have just written: 35.97262,-111.95655

 

[Hotelone]

Retired LE Fed Park Ranger here. Flyovers are a no-no. The operant section, "operating or using":

36 CFR § 2.17 Aircraft and air delivery.

(a) The following are prohibited:

(1) Operating or using aircraft on lands or waters other than at locations designated pursuant to special regulations.

(2) Where a water surface is designated pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section, operating or using aircraft under power on the water within 500 feet of locations designated as swimming beaches, boat docks, piers, or ramps, except as otherwise designated.

(3) Delivering or retrieving a person or object by parachute, helicopter, or other airborne means, except in emergencies involving public safety or serious property loss, or pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit.

(b) The provisions of this section, other than paragraph (c) of this section, shall not be applicable to official business of the Federal government, or emergency rescues in accordance with the directions of the superintendent, or to landings due to circumstances beyond the control of the operator.

(c)

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the owners of a downed aircraft shall remove the aircraft and all component parts thereof in accordance with procedures established by the superintendent. In establishing removal procedures, the superintendent is authorized to: (i) Establish a reasonable date by which aircraft removal operations must be complete; (ii) determine times and means of access to and from the downed aircraft; and (iii) specify the manner or method of removal.

(2) Failure to comply with procedures and conditions established under paragraph (c)(1) of this section is prohibited.

(3) The superintendent may waive the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section or prohibit the removal of downed aircraft, upon a determination that: (i) The removal of downed aircraft would constitute an unacceptable risk to human life; (ii) the removal of a downed aircraft would result in extensive resource damage; or (iii) the removal of a downed aircraft is impracticable or impossible.

(d) The use of aircraft shall be in accordance with regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration. Such regulations are adopted as a part of these regulations.

(e) The operation or use of hovercraft is prohibited.

(f) Violation of the terms and conditions of a permit issued in accordance with this section is prohibited and may result in the suspension or revocation of the permit.

If you fly in and fly out will you get caught? Probably not, but think about why the NP's were established and how they are enjoyed today. There's no place for a bunch of buzzing drones in the parks or wilderness areas, no matter how much I want want to launch my MP when I get off work at my current retirement job each day. But I drive down canyon each afternoon and can fly in the NF lands no problem on my way home. Don't fly over NP lands.

 

[joeywestside]

The airspace above the Grand Canyon is a Special Flight Rules Area. It's controlled. Do NP's control any of the airspace above them? No. However, the the case is the Grand Canyon, the FAA has special rules. I attached a quick screenshot from the VFR sectional for Grand Canyon from SkyVector. The SFRA is divided into different sectors, you can see two on map, for example, from the Surface to 7999' MSL.

I just spent most of last week in the area and searched hard for the 'right spot'. I have no personal issue taking off from a NF and into a NP, it is legal, after all. But the FAA's airspace rules are super strict....

Best of luck friend!