FAA Finally Proposes Drone Airspace Restrictions — Here’s What It Means for Attractions

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) took a significant step last week, publishing a proposed rule that would allow amusement parks and other eligible facilities to formally petition for drone-free airspace above their properties. This is something our industry has been pushing for since Congress first directed the FAA to create this process back in 2016. A decade later, the rule is finally moving.

What This Means for Attractions

Unauthorized drones over crowded facilities aren't a hypothetical. They've disrupted operations, threatened guest safety, and complicated everything from fireworks shows to aerial entertainment. This rule creates a formal, permanent pathway for eligible facilities to apply for restricted airspace, a meaningful tool that simply hasn't existed before.

Congress explicitly named key parts of the attraction industry as eligible for these protections, alongside energy infrastructure, oil refineries, and state prisons. That recognition matters.

Reviewing the Details

The proposed framework, however, raises real questions for our industry. IAAPA's Public Affairs team has already reviewed the full proposal and identified provisions that could significantly affect which facilities qualify, what airspace they can protect, and how the process works in practice. We'll be sharing more in the coming weeks — breaking down the key provisions and preparing this network to weigh in before the July 6 public comment deadline.

This Is the Moment We've Been Building Toward

Our Public Affairs team is engaging with relevant stakeholders and key industry partners as we develop IAAPA's formal comments on behalf of the industry. This rulemaking has been a decade in the making. We intend to make it count.

More details are coming soon. Thank you for your continued commitment to advocating for this industry.

Sincerely,

Zach Stokes
Public Affairs Manager
IAAPA North America