Private drones are disrupting recovery efforts in the Texas Hill Country

KERR COUNTY, Texas — Local officials said people are launching drones in the Texas Hill Country, interfering with search and transport aircraft that are helping with the flood recovery efforts. It’s so bad that the Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction for counties in the area.

The restriction prohibits aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, from operating in the area without permission. Drone pilots must coordinate with the controlling agency to gain access to the restricted airspace.

A spokesperson with the Kerr County Sheriff’s office said they had to talk to three drone pilots on Thursday alone. KCSO said that a drone struck a helicopter, causing minor damage, earlier in the week. A drone strike caused a helicopter to land on Sunday, grounding the chopper during important missions.

It wasn’t clear if the drone operators were trying to help search, document the devastation or just gawking at the tragedy.

The search efforts are concentrated in Kerr County and surrounding areas, creating a high volume of aircraft operating in a tight corridor. The FAA emphasized that following the temporary flight restriction rules is critical for the safety of all aircraft and ground personnel in the area.

The restricted area and time frame are subject to change, prompting the FAA to urge pilots to monitor notices closely. Active temporary flight restrictions are published on the FAA’s official list and updated in real time.

The restrictions are also displayed in FAA resources specifically designed for drone pilots, including the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability system and the B4UFLY app designed for recreational drone flyers.

Only pilots who receive clearance through the Air Operations Center may operate within the restricted zone. Once pilots obtain clearance, the Joint Air Ground Coordination Team will track their activity and manage all aircraft and aircrews for safety and airspace coordination.

The FAA has deployed active drone detection equipment within the restricted area, allowing the coordination team to report suspicious and non-approved drone flights to law enforcement for contact and grounding. Any documented violations of the flight restriction will be forwarded to the Air Operations Center for coordination with the FAA and FBI.

Those with a legitimate need to operate within the restricted area can contact the Air Operations Center’s UAS Command at 936-577-2370.