This is just a good example of how one needs to be keenly aware of any air traffic occurring in the location one wished to fly. My property resides within a 400' LAANC grid cell that is part of Republic Airport on Long Island. So generally I am cleared to fly to 400' AGL and have never been denied authorization. (Blue dot is my location.) Today, the annual Memorial Day weekend Airshow was held at Jones Beach, featuring the Navy Blue Angels and other aircraft demonstrations -- with a TFR in place. However, I am located outside of the TFR area. I also received authorization to fly up to 400' AGL through LAANC today. So no problem, I'm good to go......Correct? Not really. The performing aircraft were taking off from Republic, Airport and I happen to be located along a straight line between Republic Airport and Jones Beach. And although mostly all of the aircraft appeared to be flying above 400' AGL on their way to the show as they passed overhead, there was a support helicopter that flew back and forth between Jones Beach and Republic at least a dozen times during the day (see flight paths from my "Plane Finder" App) at considerably low altitude. My estimate is the helicopter was flying somewhere between 100'-150' AGL each time as it passed overhead. (See photo taken from my yard.)
Luckily, I've lived here for 32 years and am familiar with the annual airshow, the route the planes take, and how low that support helicopter flies each year. But a new drone operator to the neighborhood, or a drone operator who thinks being outside of a TFR and flying with LAANC authorization is a bright green light to fly -- in this case -- would be very wrong. I'm surprised the LAANC authorization wasn't temporarily turned off this weekend considering how many aircraft were traversing the local sky. BTW.. I immediately cancelled the flight authorization upon receiving it, as I had no intention to fly. I was just curious if it would be granted to me on this day. So lesson to everyone to be aware of aircraft activity in your intended flight area, no matter what authorization you may have.
Luckily, I've lived here for 32 years and am familiar with the annual airshow, the route the planes take, and how low that support helicopter flies each year. But a new drone operator to the neighborhood, or a drone operator who thinks being outside of a TFR and flying with LAANC authorization is a bright green light to fly -- in this case -- would be very wrong. I'm surprised the LAANC authorization wasn't temporarily turned off this weekend considering how many aircraft were traversing the local sky. BTW.. I immediately cancelled the flight authorization upon receiving it, as I had no intention to fly. I was just curious if it would be granted to me on this day. So lesson to everyone to be aware of aircraft activity in your intended flight area, no matter what authorization you may have.
