PDK airport webpage aims to educate residents on drone safety

Nov 12, 2015

DeKalb-Peachtree Airport this week launched a new webpage aimed at educating the public on drone safety.

The webpage notes that hobbyists who fly drones, or unmanned aircraft, must follow safety guidelines. It also notes that a federal rule specifies that users of model aircraft — including recreational drones — should not fly within 5 miles of an airport without notifying the airport or its control tower beforehand.

And the webpage includes a map showing the area within a 5-mile radius of PDK airport, which stretches all the way to Roswell Road to the west, to Sandy Springs and Dunwoody to the north, to Tucker to the east and to the Toco Hills area to the south.

"I'm mostly concerned with the hobbyists," said PDK airport interim director Mario Evans, adding that the webpage is aimed at educating the public. If hobbyists within the five-mile radius call the airport, he said they are allowed to fly their drones, but the airport also emphasizes safe practices to them.

Click here to see a bigger map on myajc.com showing restricted zones for drones in metro Atlanta.

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