BIG No Drone Fly Zone Around Water Follies Race Course This Weekend

Kennewick Police and other authorities remind citizens, this weekend, through Sunday evening, absolutely NO drones anywhere near the Columbia Cup.

   Fly a Drone, Get Sent Home--Or Maybe Jail

It's called a Temporary Flight Restriction, or TFR, around the vast majority of the Columbia Cup Racing Zone this weekend, and it comes from the FAA, or Federal Aviation Administration.

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Kennewick Police have released a zone map, the red shaded areas are the no fly zone.  Part of of the reason is broadcast and video rights.  H-1 Unlimited and the Tri City Water Follies have the exclusive rights to use drones to broadast, video or monitor the event--period.  You are not allowed to have your 'own' hydro coverage of the event.

 It Also Has to Do With Safety and Security

The other reasons include safety and security.  Just like during the World Cup in Seattle or the Seahawks Super Bowl Parade, only pre-approved drone flights were allowed, such as the TV stations.  That didn't stop some private operators from trying, and most of them were located and faced stiff fines.

AND, nobody wants to face Federal charges because their silly little drone got in the way of the Over The River Airshow...it has happened, rarely, at other airshows over the years. The FAA doesn't screw around, they pursue illegal drone flights, and besides confiscation, the fines are well into the tens of thousands.

 The TFR Zone is in effect NOW, and ends on Sunday at 1 PM, so just leave the drone at home.