Maryland State Police is reminding drone operators of their legal obligations to avoid restricted airspace and yield to other aircraft, following two incidents in August in which unmanned aircraft interfered with medevac helicopter operations.
On Aug. 15, Maryland State Troopers were assisting Baltimore City Police at a sporting event at M&T Bank Stadium when a drone was spotted near the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center’s helipad. A Maryland State Police Aviation Command helicopter, Trooper 1, was on a medevac mission and departing Shock Trauma when the drone began descending in the same area.
Police located the operator, who was not licensed and was flying inside a Temporary Flight Restriction put in place for the sporting event.
State police said helicopter pilots often struggle to spot a drone with enough time to avoid a collision, particularly at night. Under federal rules, drone operators are responsible for seeing and avoiding helicopters and other aircraft, must yield the right-of-way to all other aircraft, and may not pass over, under, or ahead of another aircraft unless well clear.
A second incident followed on Aug. 31, when Trooper 1 and Trooper 3 responded to a fatal crash on Interstate 70 in Howard County alongside the Shock Trauma GO Team. A trooper on the ground spotted a drone flying over both medevac helicopters during the response. That operator was never identified.
Maryland allows both manned and unmanned flights, but drone pilots are required to check for Temporary Flight Restrictions and obtain proper authorization before flying in controlled airspace. Airspace status can be checked through one of the FAA-approved “Before You Fly” apps. Sporting events such as Ravens, Commanders, and Orioles home games carry Temporary Flight Restrictions that prohibit drone flights.
To fly recreationally, operators are required to complete the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), a free online certification covering safety and regulatory requirements. Drones weighing 250 grams or more must also be registered with the FAA. Additional information on Maryland UAS operations is available from state police.
This is at least the second time this year Southern Maryland Chronicle has covered new or evolving drone rules in the state; Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources introduced a new drone restriction tied to this fall’s hunting season.
