Leave the Drones at Home When Visiting Cape Cod National Seashore

Don’t take the drones with you when you head out to the Cape Cod National Seashore this summer.

The Cape Cod National Seashore, which covers more than 43,500 acres of land along the Atlantic Ocean, announced that it has banned the use of unmanned aircraft.

“Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Cape Cod National Seashore is prohibited except as approved in writing by the superintendent,” according to the new Superintendent’s Compendium.

Drones have become a popular recreational activity with video cameras attached to drones taking shots not easily taken before, such as inside of Fourth of July fireworks.

The Federal Aviation Administration isn’t so sure about the practice of sending drones so close to fireworks displays. The FAA is investigating cases in which camera-equipped drones shot Fourth of July displays.

The Cape Cod National Seashore said the ban is “necessary to maintain public health and safety and to protect park resources and values until the NPS can determine whether specific uses of unmanned aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS are appropriate and will not cause unacceptable impacts on park resources and values. Cape Cod National Seashore protects a variety of threatened and endangered birds and other species, and hosts thousands of visitors to our beaches, trails and remote areas each day. Until evaluations of these issues are analyzed, the Seashore will prohibit unmanned aircraft use except as authorized, including research and administrative use, by the superintendent.”

Drones are no longer allowed, but you can still bring electric powered model aircraft “when operated for recreational or hobby purposes and within the unaided visual line of sight of the operator. The electric powered model aircraft is prohibited from containing a camera or any other recording device, and it cannot be operated within 200 meters of any area designated by signs as a ‘Closed –Bird Use Area,’ or on swimming beaches when lifeguards are on duty.

“Model aircraft may not disturb or harass wildlife, be operated in a reckless manner and must avoid flying directly over people.”

This isn’t the first ban to make news on Cape Cod this summer. The Cape Cod National Seashore also banned smoking.