SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The FAA announced Tuesday a temporary drone ban that stretches from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara to San Francisco.
Kevin Ho of San Francisco flies his drones once a month.
“It’s pretty small. It’s pretty light weight,” said Ho.
He has three of them.
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“One of them I crashed,” said Ho.
As a real estate agent, Ho often uses drones for work.
“It’s a great pretty unique marketing thing that offer to our clients. “We’re able to say, ‘Here’s your house and a drone shot,” said Ho.
For Super Bowl week, the FAA and local authorities have imposed a temporary drone ban.
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“Super Bowl 60 is a no-drone zone, and all flight restrictions will be actively enforced,” said Super Bowl authorities.
“I think having a temporary drone ban- it makes sense. It’s a little off putting in a way. It seems a little overprotective,” said Ho.
In San Francisco, the ban covers several places, including the areas around Moscone Center, the Ferry Building, the Pearl, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Grace Cathedral.
“The Super Bowl is being played in Santa Clara. It’s kind of weird to me that in San Francisco here and in certain areas, that you couldn’t be flying a drone around unless they have something they were warned about or they are trying to prevent,” said Tony Allegretti, a San Francisco resident who lives near Grace Cathedral.
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Retired SFPD Deputy Chief James Dudley said it makes sense that the FAA would want to put a temporary drone ban in the airspace over high-level, high-profile events.
“Not only for malicious, malevolent intent but also just to keep the airway clear,” said Dudley. “You’ve already got law enforcement drones in air, you’ve got CHP helicopters, you’ve got media helicopters, so you’ve got an already crowded airspace. And then, introduce these things that start out the size of your hand, but then they can get to the size of my Mini-Cooper,” said Dudley.
Drone enthusiasts like Ho say they appreciate the extra security measures.
“I guess they want to err on the side of safety, versus enthusiasts,” said Ho.
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