What do the different colors in the map mean?

Airports

Drone operations near airports pose unique safety and security challenges. Manned aircraft fly in low-altitude airspace when taking off and landing at an airport. As such, in some countries, coordinating with the airport and air traffic control agencies is required.  For example, in the United States the FAA requires recreational operators to give notice for flights within 5 statute miles of an airport. Notice must be given to the airport operator and air traffic control tower, if the airport has a tower. Tap or click on an airspace area to see the airport operator phone number.

 

 

Heliports

This layer indicates a radius around designated heliports. These heliports may not be active, and in some instances may be an empty field where helicopters can land in emergencies. The layer adds a lot of detail in cities, where many buildings have heliports. This is included as an advisory area to help alert UAS operators that they should be particularly alert to helicopter traffic in the area.  

 

 

Encouraged to Fly

It is encouraged to fly in these designated areas.

 

Temporary Flight Restrictions

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are used to temporarily restrict flights in certain areas. Some TFRs have become more permanent, like those around Disneyland and Disneyworld. But most are event based, for example during sporting events. The governing airspace agency publishes TFRs as necessary, but there are also “unpublished” TFRs for sporting events that AirMap also includes. A gray circle indicates that a TFR is not active at the moment, but is scheduled to start in the next 24 hours.

 

Prohibited or Restricted Airspace

Prohibited areas protect the most sensitive areas in a country. Restricted areas are typically located around military installations or other areas where flight could be hazardous. Permission from the controlling agency and air traffic control is required to enter these areas and is often not available. For example areas in the United States such as the White House and Camp David, permission from the using agency (such as the Secret Service) is required to enter a Prohibited Area.

 

First Responder Activity

When this map layer is selected on AirMap’s apps for iOS, Android, and web, drone operators can see first responder activity from computer aided dispatch centers in more than 2,100 U.S. communities.  This activity is indicated as an orange circle in the map view on the web app, and as an advisory on the AirMap mobile apps.

 

 

National Parks

This layer depicts areas within the boundaries of units of National Park System. For example, launching, landing, or operating unmanned aircraft is prohibited on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within these areas. More information about the location of units of the National Park System and the National Park Service drone ban is available on the website of each park area which can be found on www.nps.gov.

 

 

Fires

This layer includes real-time wildfires sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Interior’s incident command system. The Federal Aviation Administration does not issue Temporary Flight Restrictions for the vast majority of fires in the United States, even though many are fought with firefighting aircraft. In many states, interfering with firefighting activity is considered a crime.

 

  

NOAA Marine Protection Areas

The United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regulations prohibit certain flights of powered aircraft (including drones) in these areas. More information available on NOAA’s website

 

 

Notification Area

Areas shaded in grey are notification zones. Flights filed in these areas will notify a local airspace stakeholder.

 

Controlled Airspaces

Controlled airspace is an area of defined dimensions which Air Traffic Control (ATC) services are provided. The degree of control varies with different classes of airspace.  Controlled airspace in the AirMap application pertains to Part 107 commercial drone operations and requires approval via the FAA web portal.

 

Class B 

 

Class C 

 

Class D

 

Class E