New Drone Video Shows Top of Devil’s Tower, But Is It Legal?
There's a new drone video that shows Devil's Tower including what's on top, but is it legal?
Before I get into the legal stuff, I must give credit where credit is due. Whoever captured this drone video did a nice job of flying with the remote. Well done. But, there's a problem.
While I will admit it's neat to see that actual top of Devil's Tower, this guy broke the law in getting the footage. If you read the fine print on the National Park Service website, you'll see this juicy detail about what you can and can't do with your drone:
The National Park Service requests that pilots of aircraft maintain a minimum distance of 2,000 feet above the nearest ground mass within national park units. Additionally, there is a 2-mile no-fly advisory zone around Devils Tower (3 miles in June). The use of remotely piloted aircraft, or drones, inside of Devils Tower National Monument is prohibited.
I added the bold print in that statement for the benefit of this YouTube guy/drone pilot. While it's tempting to try and get a unique vantage point of an iconic Wyoming monument, it's a big no-no to fly your drone around it.
This guy has a total of 7 subscribers last time I looked, so you have to figure he's a well-intended individual who just didn't know. But, the law is the law and it's best to know what you can and can't do before you actually do it.