The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed multiple temporary restrictions on drone flights over key infrastructure sites in New Jersey.
Announced on Thursday, the restrictions limit drone operations to an altitude of 400 feet and apply only to drones, excluding civilian airplanes and helicopters.
“At the request of federal security partners, the FAA published 22 Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights over critical New Jersey infrastructure,” the FAA said in a statement.
The restricted sites include Cedar Grove Switching Station, Athenia Switching Station, Hudson Switching Station, PSE&G Kearny Switching Station, and Bayonne Switching Station. These measures represent the most extensive airspace restrictions since concerns over drone activity in the Northeast arose about a month ago. The restrictions will remain in effect until January 17.
Additionally, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced precautionary measures involving temporary flight bans over critical infrastructure across New York state on the same day. However, details about the specific sites, the extent of the restrictions, and their duration were not disclosed.
“In coordination with the FAA and our critical infrastructure partners who requested temporary flight restrictions over their facilities, out of an abundance of caution, the FAA has issued temporary flight restrictions over some critical infrastructure facilities in New Jersey,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
These new restrictions follow existing bans on drone flights over President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf course and the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research facility, in place since November 26.
Importantly, the current restrictions in New Jersey apply only to low-altitude drone operations and do not affect other aircraft.
