I've looked only at the 130 and 150 MPH club rules, and they included nothing about drones. One of my guys wants to bring one. Its camera shoots in 4K. I'll have cameras in my car. We should get some nice video from the event.
Years ago, he brought a powered hang glider and got shots from the air using that. He was careful not to fly over any of the tracks.
I've seen airplanes fly over the event.
Mike
No fly zone. Except military.
Thanks.
I decided to try to learn more, and at https://mapscaping.com/map-of-drone-fly-zones-in-the-us/ , I found this map:
(https://www.kstreetstudio.com/files/World_of_Speed/2025-No-Fly_Zone.png)
It looks like the salt flats are near no-fly zones, but not in one.
Mike
That's an FAA no fly zone map. Event rules may differ. :cheers:
Wayno
Mike,
The map you posted does not reflect the current expanded UTTR North boundaries, they were extended west to include the majority of the Newfoundland Basin salt flat, which is now enclosed behind a steel wire fence with warning signs posted along its length. You can see this fence looking east from the east end of the Silver Island Loop Road near the Donner-Reed Pass Monument. This fence extends north all the way to the railroad owned property that the Lucin Cutoff passes through around the north end of the Newfoundland Mountain Range. This railroad owned strip of private property is gated at the western Lucin end and at the eastern end of the causeway across the Great Salt Lake at the far western end of 12th Street in Ogden. It is patrolled by Union Pacific Track Security and they will arrest you for trespassing if you are caught travelling the track maintenance road not in an appropriately authorized company vehicle, and if it is not a UP vehicle there will have to be a letter authorization from UP track scheduling that includes vehicle specifics, occupants identification, and time period of approved transit with date(s) and hours.
Also keep in mind the boundaries shown on the map are land deeded to the USAF as range property managed by the Range Squadron at Hill Air Base near Ogden, Utah.
If you want full understanding of the air space contained in the UTTR (Utah Test and Training Range) complex you have to use the current FAA Sectional Charts that show the MOA (Military Operating Area) which extends well outside the ground boundaries where the fences are installed. This MOA does extend over the Bonneville Salt Flats, hence you often see military aircraft operating over the race tracks. There are two common private aircraft flight paths from SLC/Ogden area to Wendover or Bonneville. The preferred always clear path is north of the MOA around Pilot Peak and into Wendover from the west. The faster and slightly more risky path is the narrow corridor directly above I-80 that squeezes between UTTR North and UTTR South, but this airway can be closed with short notice if there are test in progress using the combined UTTR space. The Sectional will also provide a radio frequency to contact Clover Control at UTTR North for VFR clearance across the range if there is no activity in progress, and that generally means nothing in the air on either north or south ranges during the requested transit time.
As mentioned here, there are additional event restrictions on the use of drones over the tracks, typically managed by press pass requirements to avoid dangerous situations. Check with the sanctioning body at the event before you fly any drones over the race courses.
Thanks
Tom Burkland
Thank you all for the information. I figured this could get complicated.
I googled the question, and it looks like there have been big drone events there. So, it is possible, and I assume those events were legal.
The FAA maps show that the area around the Salt Flats is clear. There are two TSRs in Utah, but they are well to the east. I've also emailed the BLM to see what they say.
Mike
There have been drones during the event but with permission. Check with Dennis Sullivan, Pres of USFRA
Will do.
The BLM got back to me. They are okay with drones, but they also told me I should check with the USFRA.
Mike
Interesting.
When I had a drone, I was told it was a no fly zone due to other aircraft in the area by the BLM guy on site.
Flying it over crowd's is frowned upon though. Always tried to fly mine away from people or the starting line.
I got fed up with it cause every time I'd fire it up, somehow a instant wind storm popped up. Sold it shortly after.
pull.
I've received some interesting and detailed PMs in response to my question, and they give good reasons for not allowing drones. All I can say at this point is, if one is looking for reasons to not allow drones to fly, there are plenty of them, but there are also good and simple reasons for allowing them. And, it sounds like people have done it before, and I am not hearing any horror stories, plus like I mentioned above, my friend flew a hang glider at an event some 10 years ago and got good shots. But he also did not fly over the tracks or the lines of cars.
This time around, the BLM says it is okay, and now I am just waiting to hear back from USFRA. I imagine they are quite busy at this time, what with the event scheduled for next week and all, and if I don't hear back from them, we'll bring the drone and ask in person.
The race series I normally race in does not allow drones, and I completely understand. We typically have 150 or more cars on track (Once we had 230+ out on track at the same time.) and a thousand people in a fairly congested paddock. Any problem with a drone crashing would likely cause additional damage. Add to this the likelihood that many drone pilots are novices, and that would be asking for trouble.
Mike
For me, this year, drones have become a moot point. Engine problems will keep us home. 2,000+ road race miles will do that, I suppose.