Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Photo of a sign reading "Drones Prohibited: Launching, landing, or operating unmanned or remote controlled aircraft in units managed by the National Park Service is prohibited". The sign also features an icon of a drone crossed out. Ocean in background
In most cases, drones are prohibited in national parks, such as Canaveral National Seashore.

Photo: NPS/Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division

An "uncrewed aircraft" (or "unmanned aircraft") is a flying device that operates without a human pilot on board. This includes drones, model airplanes, quadcopters, and similar devices used for recreational, administrative, research, and commercial purposes. The term "uncrewed aircraft system" (UAS) encompasses the aircraft along with components such as cameras, sensors, and communication tools.

Public UAS Use

For the most part, launching or landing a UAS (including drone delivery) is prohibited in national parks.

The sight and sound of a UAS can be very disruptive to wildlife and to visitors, especially in national parks. Imagine stepping to the rim of the Grand Canyon only to hear the high whine of a drone engine or have a quadcopter photobomb your perfect shot. Or imagine being a bird or small mammal, and sensing a strange flying object—predator? rival?—swoop into your flightpath or over your head. Small objects flying at low altitudes can confuse and alarm animals, and the high-pitched sounds UASs make prove especially annoying to both people and wildlife. In some circumstances, unauthorized operation of a UAS could even interfere with emergency operations such as firefighting or search and rescue. For all of these reasons, depending on the park unit, unauthorized operation of a UAS may result in a fine, confiscation, and/or other repercussions.

Authorized UAS Use

On occasion, the NPS uses UAS for special administrative purposes, such as:

  • Life Threatening (Emergency) and Operational (Urgent) Missions
  • Wildland Fire and Search and Rescue Operations
  • Structural assessments or scientific monitoring
  • Procuring end products or services from contractors or vendors, such as aerial photography

External requests for UAS operations may also be permitted, though must follow specific requirements. Allowable external purposes include:

  • UAS Operations for Scientific Research and Collecting Permits
  • Agreements Incorporating UAS Missions
  • Special Use Permits

Guidance on using UAS for administrative and research operations is outlined in the NPS Reference Manual 60, Aviation Management, Chapter 12: Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and Appendix 8: Permitting for Uncrewed Aircraft.

Two people in yellow helmets and shirts operate a drone aircraft above dry vegetation
Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln launch an uncrewed aircraft at Homestead National Historical Park.

NPS / MIKE JOHNSON

Best Practices for UAS Operations

In collaboration with other NPS staff and an interagency group from the U.S. Geological Survey, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division has developed a set of best practices for avoiding impacts to natural, cultural, and historic resources when using UAS [Drop down menus below, or available as a PDF, 122 KB].

The best practices were developed to supplement the requirements in RM-60, Aviation Management. They are intended to assist personnel developing and approving requests for UAS operations to avoid impacts to natural, cultural, and historic resources. Superintendents may adopt more protective measures to address park-specific concerns. Note that in some cases, use of UAS itself may be the best practice, with respect to increased safety and a reduction in noise, compared to operation of crewed aircraft.

Because UAS technology and the state of knowledge are evolving rapidly, these best practices were developed to be flexible and may be updated as more information becomes available. They are consistent with Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, Presidential Memoranda, the Department of Interior, and NPS requirements.

Pre-Flight Planning

During Mission

Last updated: April 30, 2025