First, cowbells; now, drones

STARKVILLE, Miss. - A camera hovers hundreds of feet above Davis-Wade Stadium on the Mississippi State University campus on a sunny football Saturday. The high-tech tool captures stunning game-day video of the No.1 ranked Bulldogs and game-day festivities below for uploading online for viewers around the world. But, it’s prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration. With the proliferation of low-cost drones, sporting events around the U.S. are seeing an increase in their numbers hovering over stadiums. Mississippi State University’s chief research officer, Davd Shaw, says these operators are flying in restricted airspace and is a risk to people on the ground. The FAA has specific rules about where drones can fly. According to the FAA, the airspace above the stadium - and other such venues - are “national defense airspace” on game days; and restrictions extend three miles in diameter and 3,000 feet overhead. Anyone knowingly or willfully violating the rules pertaining to operations in this airspace may be subject to certain criminal penalties; and all of these type commercial activities must have an approved certificate of operation. As a result, MSU has developed a university policy prohibiting any outdoor operation of drones - except when specifically authorized. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal, 10/30/14)