(TVR) – The FAA has banned drones from flying above some of most famous landmarks in the United States, saying it issued the order at “the request of U.S. national security and law enforcement agencies.”

The landmarks include the Statue of Liberty in New York and Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

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The action by the agency expands a drone ban implemented by the National Park Service for areas under its control.

The only drone flights that will permitted are those with special FAA approval, the agency said in a release.

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Ban on Drones 1^st for FAA Over Landmarks

The drone ban for high-profile landmarks is the first time the agency has put airspace restrictions in place for lands administered by the Department of the Interior.

Previously, the FAA has banned drone flights over military facilities.

And more such restrictions could be implemented soon.

The FAA revealed it “is considering additional requests from other federal agencies” for similar drone restrictions.

As of this month, drone flights over the following landmarks are no longer allowed without FAA permission:

• Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York, NY
• Boston National Historical Park (U.S.S. Constitution), Boston, MA
• Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, PA
• Folsom Dam; Folsom, CA
• Glen Canyon Dam; Lake Powell, AZ
• Grand Coulee Dam; Grand Coulee, WA
• Hoover Dam; Boulder City, NV
• Jefferson National Expansion Memorial; St. Louis, MO
• Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Keystone, SD
• Shasta Dam; Shasta Lake, CA

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Pilots Want ‘Urgent Action’ After Drone Collision Tests

As The Voyage Report detailed in July, an organization representing 38,000 pilots called for “urgent action” after recent drone collision tests showed “catastrophic” results to commercial airplanes and helicopters.

The testing, sponsored by the European Cockpit Association, the United Kingdom Department of Transportation, and the UK Military Aviation Authority, concluded that drones with the same mass of a bird traveling at the same speed can do far more damage to an aircraft.

“The results of the independent tests prove that there is a possibility of a catastrophic consequence from a drone colliding with an aircraft,” said Johan Glantz, Executive Board Director at the ECA.

“That means this identified risk needs to be adequately mitigated with appropriate measures, such as the qualification and training for recreational drone users, additional technology installed in drones, and effective awareness campaign among the mass-market drone users.”

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