be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc

## Drone Rules - Cleveland NF, California

**Agua Tibia Wilderness (15,933 acres)** bans drones; San Diego Class B airspace overlaps the western portions of the forest.

### Airspace / Site Context
- San Diego International (SAN) Class B and MCAS Miramar (NKX) Class D create complex airspace west of the Cleveland NF ridgeline
- Palomar Observatory is within the forest -- FAA has coordinated with USFS on airspace management near the telescope
- Southern California fire risk is extreme; TFRs are issued with short notice May-November

### Key Rules
- LAANC required for any flight within the SAN Class B ring system (western forest)
- Check MCAS Miramar NOTAMs; military training flights operate at low altitude over Palomar and Warner Springs areas
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial photography

### Source
- USFS Cleveland: https://www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland

## Drone Rules - Angeles NF, California

**Los Angeles Class B airspace** covers virtually the entire forest; LAANC or Part 107 waiver required for almost all flights.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Bob Hope (BUR) Class C, Ontario International (ONT) Class C, and LA/Ontario area airports surround the forest
- San Gabriel Wilderness and Sheep Mountain Wilderness are within the forest -- Wilderness motorized ban adds to the airspace restriction
- Grid squares over Mt. Wilson, Chilao Flats, and Wrightwood uniformly authorize 0 ft AGL -- effectively no LAANC access

### Key Rules
- LAANC approval at 0 ft AGL in most grid squares means recreational drones cannot fly anywhere in the forest without a Part 107 waiver
- Commercial Part 107 operators should check individual grid squares on the FAA UAS Facility Map
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial photography; film industry demand is extremely high

### Source
- USFS Angeles: https://www.fs.usda.gov/angeles
- FAA UAS Facility Map: https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad

## Drone Rules - Tonto NF, Arizona

**Superstition Wilderness (160,200 acres)** bans drones; Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) Class B outer rings reach Tonto's western boundary.

### Airspace / Site Context
- PHX Class B outer ring (Mode C veil) extends to 30 NM; Tonto's western Salt River corridor is inside the Mode C veil -- squawk 1200 and maintain 400 ft AGL max
- Mesa Gateway (IWA) and Falcon Field (FFZ) Class D airspace both abut the forest's southwestern boundary
- Salt River tonto recreation area: heavily managed -- parking fees, day use fees, and USFS film permit required for commercial drone work

### Key Rules
- LAANC required for flights within PHX Mode C veil (30 NM from PHX) -- includes most of the Salt River area
- Salt River commercial photography permit process: apply at Tonto NF Mesa Ranger District
- Superstition Wilderness boundary is only 2 miles from popular Saguaro Lake; download GPS boundary before flying

### Source
- USFS Tonto: https://www.fs.usda.gov/tonto

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ Banned in wilderness and Special Mgmt Areas
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ USFS Special Use Permit required
- Airspace: ⚠️ Prescott Regional Airport (PRC) Class D —
  ATC authorization mandatory for operations near Prescott
- ESA Layer: ⚠️ Southwestern willow flycatcher and Gila
  chub critical habitat in Verde River headwaters
- Historic Layer: ⚠️ Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial —
  site of 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire tragedy; NHPA sensitivity

## Geographic Boundaries
Prescott National Forest is located in Yavapai County, Arizona,
administered by USFS.
- Total area: ~1,237,062 acres
- Coordinates: 34.5400° N, 112.4700° W
- Nearest city: Prescott, AZ (~10 miles east); Cottonwood, AZ
- Nearest airport: Prescott Regional Airport (PRC) ~10 miles east
- Terrain: Bradshaw Mountains; Mingus Mountain (7,743 ft);
  Granite Mountain; Verde River headwaters; Lynx Creek;
  Prescott Basin; Juniper and ponderosa pine zones
- Granite Mountain Wilderness (~9,799 ac) — site of June 30,
  2013 Yarnell Hill Fire; 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots
  perished; Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park
  adjacent; NHPA sensitivity for memorial landscape
- Southwestern willow flycatcher — federally endangered;
  Verde River and Lynx Creek riparian corridors
- Gila chub (Gila intermedia) — federally endangered;
  Verde River headwaters critical habitat
- Prescott Regional Airport Class D airspace overlaps
  eastern forest units
- Airspace: Class D (PRC) eastern forest; Class G elsewhere

## Regulations
- 36 CFR § 261.10 — unauthorized aircraft prohibited
- 36 CFR § 251.50 — Special Use authorization
- Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Granite Mountain
  (~9,799 ac); Cedar Bench (~14,950 ac); Pine Mountain
  (~20,061 ac — shared with Tonto NF)
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107.41 — Prescott Class D (PRC);
  ATC authorization mandatory for eastern forest ops
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — southwestern
  willow flycatcher; Gila chub Verde River critical habitat
- Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial — NHPA sensitivity;
  NPS and State Parks joint oversight of memorial landscape
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) —
  Yavapai and prehistoric Prescott Culture sites
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — common
  black hawk; zone-tailed hawk; bald eagle winter presence
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

## Penalties
- USFS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 36 CFR § 261.10
- Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months
- FAA Class D violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day
- ESA Section 9 (flycatcher/Gila chub): civil up to $25,000;
  criminal up to $50,000 + 1 year each
- ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years
- MBTA violations: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months
- Equipment confiscation by USFS rangers

## Special Permissions
- USFS Special Use Permit required; FAA LAANC required
  for eastern forest Class D operations
- Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial: NHPA Section 106
  review required for any commercial film at memorial site
- ESA Section 7 for flycatcher and Gila chub riparian zones
Submit requests to: Prescott National Forest Supervisor,
344 S Cortez Street, Prescott, AZ 86303
FAA LAANC: https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/data_exchange

## Drone Rules - Prescott NF, Arizona

**Granite Mountain and Cedar Bench Wilderness Areas** ban drones; Prescott Airport (PRC) Class D overlaps portions of the forest boundary.







### Airspace / Site Context
- Prescott Airport (PRC) Class D surface area extends to ~5 NM; the Granite Mountain Wilderness trailhead is ~7 NM from the airport
- The Prescott area hosts the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park (AZ State Parks, adjacent) -- coordination needed near the memorial
- Elevation 5,000-7,900 ft MSL; density altitude up to 10,000+ ft DA on summer afternoons


















### Key Rules
- LAANC check for PRC Class D before flights near Granite Mountain
- Granite Mountain Wilderness is the site of the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire that killed 19 hotshots; USFS Rangers actively enforce UAS rules here
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work














### Source
- USFS Prescott: https://www.fs.usda.gov/prescott

## Drone Rules - Coconino NF, Arizona

**No Wilderness designation**, but Red Rock State Park (AZ State Parks, drone prohibited) borders the forest, and Sedona's commercial drone demand requires a USFS Special Use Permit.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Sedona Airport (SEZ) Class D sits on Airport Mesa at 4,830 ft MSL -- active approach traffic over Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock
- Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG) Class D is ~28 NM north; Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) Class B outer ring reaches toward Camp Verde
- San Francisco Peaks (12,633 ft MSL) are sacred to Navajo, Hopi, and other tribes; drone flights near the summit require sensitivity

### Key Rules
- LAANC required near SEZ Class D -- Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock are within the Class D surface area
- Commercial photography (a major Sedona industry) requires USFS Special Use Permit; high demand means permit queue is long
- Confirm launch site is on USFS land vs. AZ State Parks (Red Rock) land before flying

### Source
- USFS Coconino: https://www.fs.usda.gov/coconino

## Drone Rules - Kaibab NF, Arizona

**No Wilderness in Kaibab NF**, but Grand Canyon NP's zero-tolerance drone prohibition begins at the park boundary, and condor foraging zones overlap the Kaibab Plateau.

### Airspace / Site Context
- The North Kaibab Plateau (~9,000 ft MSL) abuts the North Rim of Grand Canyon NP -- a 1-mile buffer is barely adequate
- California condors (CR) forage regularly on the Kaibab Plateau; USFWS requires 1,000 ft AGL buffer when condors are visible
- Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCN) Class D is on the South Rim (~15 NM from North Rim)

### Key Rules
- Download Grand Canyon NP GPS boundary into drone app; park boundary on the Kaibab Plateau is in open forest with no visible markers
- Condor collar telemetry data available from USFWS Arizona/Utah condor recovery office
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work in national forest

### Source
- USFS Kaibab: https://www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

## Drone Rules - Colville NF, Washington

**No Wilderness designation**, but the Colville Indian Reservation (1.4 million acres) borders three sides of the forest; tribal government approval is required for reservation overflights.

### Airspace / Site Context
- The Colville Confederated Tribes operate tribally-managed forests adjacent to the USFS forest; boundaries are not always physically marked
- Spokane International (GEG) Class C is ~60 NM south; Republic Airport (REP) Class G is the nearest local airport
- Kettle Range and Selkirk Mountains in the forest have winter icing and sub-zero temperatures October-April

### Key Rules
- Contact Colville Confederated Tribes Natural Resources office before flying near reservation boundaries
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial photography in national forest
- Woodland caribou have been documented near the Selkirk Mountains border; spring disturbance avoidance recommended

### Source
- USFS Colville: https://www.fs.usda.gov/colville

## Drone Rules - Siuslaw NF / Oregon Dunes NRA, Oregon

**Western snowy plover nesting closures** apply to drone overflights from March 15 - September 15 annually along the dunes shoreline.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Oregon Dunes NRA is the largest coastal sand dune system in North America (40+ miles long)
- USFS has demarcated plover closure zones with GPS coordinates updated each spring; drone entry triggers ESA Section 9 take concern
- North Bend/Coos Bay (OTH) Class D is ~10 NM south of the dunes; Florence area is Class G

### Key Rules
- Download current plover nesting closure GPS boundaries from USFS Reedsport Ranger District before flying March 15 - September 15
- Outside nesting season and outside closures: no USFS permit required for recreational UAS
- Commercial operations require USFS Special Use Permit year-round

### Source
- USFS Siuslaw/Oregon Dunes: https://www.fs.usda.gov/siuslaw

## Drone Rules - Tongass NF, Alaska

**Multiple Wilderness Areas** (Admiralty Island NM Wilderness, South Baranof, West Chichagof-Yakobi, Stikine-LeConte, Tracy Arm-Fords Terror, etc.) ban drones.

### Airspace / Site Context
- World's largest temperate rainforest; floatplane and helicopter traffic is the primary manned aircraft hazard -- no ATC separation in remote areas
- Admiralty Island NM Wilderness (956,000 acres) contains the world's highest density of brown bears; drone noise disrupts bear viewing at Pack Creek (managed site)
- Juneau International (JNU) Class D is ~15 NM from Admiralty Island; other Class G airports throughout Southeast AK

### Key Rules
- Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area (USFS): drones are prohibited within the entire Pack Creek Sanctuary
- Monitor floatplane traffic on 122.8 MHz CTAF before launching near any floatplane base or lake
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations; Native Corporation land may be intermixed -- verify ownership

### Source
- USFS Tongass: https://www.fs.usda.gov/tongass

## Drone Rules - Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF, Washington

**Henry M. Jackson and Glacier View Wilderness Areas** ban drones; Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) Class B lateral limits extend toward the forest east of I-90.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Mt. Baker (active stratovolcano) -- potential TFR if volcanic activity increases; check FAA NOTAM before flying near the summit
- North Cascades NP abuts the forest north of Mt. Baker; NPS no-fly starts at the park boundary
- Seattle Class B extends east to the Cascade foothills; Snoqualmie Pass area flights require LAANC check

### Key Rules
- LAANC check (B4UFLY) required for any flight within ~35 NM of SEA near the western forest boundary
- Volcanic hazard zone around Mt. Baker crater is ~2 miles; USFS recommends contacting Whatcom County Airport (BLI) TRACON before flying near the summit
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial photography

### Source
- USFS Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mbs

## Drone Rules - Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, Washington

**Multiple Wilderness Areas** (Glacier View, William O. Douglas, Norse Peak, Clearwater, Wenatchee Mountains, Lake Chelan-Sawtooth, Chelan Mountains) ban drones.

### Airspace / Site Context
- North Cascades NP (NPS) and Lake Chelan NRA border the forest; NPS no-fly applies in those units
- Wenatchee Pangborn Memorial (EAT) Class D is ~10 NM from the Alpine Lakes Wilderness boundary
- Okanogan County is in the highest fire probability zone in Washington state; summer TFRs are common

### Key Rules
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness (393,000 acres) is one of the most visited in the Pacific Northwest -- strict enforcement
- LAANC check required near Wenatchee (EAT) before flights in the eastern slope forests
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations

### Source
- USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee: https://www.fs.usda.gov/okawen

## Drone Rules - Umatilla NF, Oregon/Washington

**North Fork Umatilla Wilderness (20,144 acres)** bans drones; the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) borders the northern forest.

### Airspace / Site Context
- CTUIR tribal land begins immediately north of the forest boundary near Pendleton; tribal government requires separate authorization for drone operations over reservation land
- Pendleton Airport (PDT) Class D is ~15 NM north of the forest boundary
- High fire risk in the Blue Mountains; annual TFRs June-October

### Key Rules
- Confirm you are on USFS land (not CTUIR) before launching near the Umatilla River corridor
- Check fire TFR daily during summer; Blue Mountains fires are common
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations in the forest

### Source
- USFS Umatilla: https://www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla

## Drone Rules - Malheur NF, Oregon

**Strawberry Mountain Wilderness (68,700 acres)** bans drones; isolation and lack of cell coverage require pre-flight offline map loading.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Located in Grant County, Oregon; John Day is the nearest town (30 NM west)
- John Day Airport (JDA) Class G; Burns Municipal (BNO) is ~50 NM south
- High-desert weather: afternoon thunderstorms July-August and winter icing from October onward

### Key Rules
- Download offline USFS boundary maps -- no cell service in Strawberry Mountain area
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial photography
- Sage-grouse lek sites are present in the forest; spring flights (March-May) near lek areas disturb breeding displays

### Source
- USFS Malheur: https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur

## Drone Rules - Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, Nevada/California

**No large Wilderness designation**, but Nellis AFB complex MOAs, R-4806, and R-4808 restricted areas cover significant portions of the southern forest.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Largest national forest in the lower 48 (6.3 million acres) -- spans from the Ruby Mountains to the Sierra Nevada
- R-4806E (Nellis Range) extends over the Toiyabe/Toquima Range; activation means NO civilian aircraft including UAS
- Reno-Tahoe International (RNO) Class C is ~20 NM west of the central Toiyabe Range

### Key Rules
- Check NOTAM and sectional for active Nellis restricted area status before any flight in Nye, Lander, or Eureka County portions
- Great Basin portions are extremely remote; ensure return-to-home battery reserve is calculated for altitude and temperature
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations in any district

### Source
- USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe: https://www.fs.usda.gov/htnf

## Drone Rules - Mendocino NF, California

**Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness (153,000 acres)** bans drones; summer fire TFRs regularly close the forest to all UAS operations.

### Airspace / Site Context
- The forest is the most fire-prone in California's national forest system; air tanker retardant drops occur routinely
- No Class D or C airports inside the forest; Red Bluff Municipal (RBL) Class D is ~35 NM east
- TFRs during active fires can be issued with 15-minute notice and cover the entire forest -- check B4UFLY in real time

### Key Rules
- Do NOT fly during any active fire TFR -- drones have grounded air tankers in this forest, triggering federal charges
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial photography in the forest
- Cell service is non-existent in most of the forest -- download B4UFLY maps offline before departing

### Source
- USFS Mendocino: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino

## Drone Rules - Stanislaus NF, California

**Emigrant Wilderness (112,000 acres) and Hoover Wilderness (52,000 acres)** ban drones; Yosemite NP's zero-tolerance no-fly begins at the NPS boundary.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Tioga Pass (Yosemite's east gate) is within 0.5 miles of Hoover Wilderness boundary -- USFS drone can see Yosemite Valley from launch point
- Modesto City-County (MOD) Class C and Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) Class C border the forest to the west and south
- High-country launches above 10,000 ft MSL: density altitude >14,000 ft DA; battery life is significantly reduced

### Key Rules
- Download Yosemite NP GPS boundary before flying near Tioga Pass area
- Hoover Wilderness boundary is marked on 7.5-min USGS quad maps; confirm position
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work; no filming of Yosemite from outside the park without NPS permit

### Source
- USFS Stanislaus: https://www.fs.usda.gov/stanislaus

## Drone Rules - Tahoe NF, California

**Granite Chief Wilderness (25,000 acres)** bans drones; Truckee Tahoe Airport (TRK) Class D is ~2 NM from the Squaw Valley ski area.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (separate USFS unit) has strict UAS rules -- confirm which unit a launch site falls under
- Truckee Tahoe Airport (TRK) Class D surface area overlaps the northern forest boundary; LAANC required for ski resort flights
- South Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL) Class D is ~10 NM south on the Nevada/California state line

### Key Rules
- LAANC authorization required for flights within ~5 NM of TRK and TVL
- Sierra Nevada fire season TFRs issued June-October; check FAA TFR viewer
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work; Lake Tahoe Basin MU has its own permit process

### Source
- USFS Tahoe: https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe

## Drone Rules - Rogue River-Siskiyou NF, Oregon/California

**Multiple Wilderness Areas** (Wild Rogue, Kalmiopsis, Red Buttes, Grassy Knob, Sky Lakes, Mountain Lakes) ban drones; Wild & Scenic river corridors add restrictions.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Wild Rogue Wilderness encompasses the deepest canyon in the Cascades-Siskiyou corridor -- strong wind funneling below 400 ft AGL
- Illinois and Chetco Rivers (Wild & Scenic) restrict commercial activities that impair free-flowing character; drone noise is a managed-use concern
- Medford Jackson County (MFR) Class C is ~30 NM east of the Rogue River Gorge

### Key Rules
- Confirm Wilderness boundary with USFS ranger station in Gold Beach or Grants Pass before flying in the Rogue Gorge
- Commercial scenic flights over Wild & Scenic rivers require Wild & Scenic River permit in addition to USFS SUP
- Fire season TFRs are common in the Siskiyou Range -- check daily June-October

### Source
- USFS Rogue River-Siskiyou: https://www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou

## Drone Rules - Deschutes NF, Oregon

**Three Sisters Wilderness (partial) and Mt. Washington Wilderness** ban drones; Crater Lake NP's no-fly begins at the park boundary.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Bend Municipal (BDN) and Redmond Airport (RDM) Class D are both within 15-20 NM of major trailheads; LAANC required for flights near Bend
- Mt. Bachelor ski area is outside Wilderness but inside the forest -- active helicopter ski patrol activity in winter
- Smith Rock State Park abuts the forest; Oregon State Parks prohibit drones, and it's a popular filming location

### Key Rules
- Smith Rock: confirm whether launch site is on USFS or Oregon State Parks land
- Fire season TFRs common June-October; check FAA TFR viewer
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work; Part 107 required for any commercial flight

### Source
- USFS Deschutes: https://www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes

## Drone Rules - Willamette NF, Oregon

**Seven Wilderness Areas** (Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Three Sisters, Waldo Lake, Diamond Peak, Bull of the Woods, Menagerie) ban drones.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Three Sisters Wilderness is Oregon's most-visited wilderness; drone citations have occurred at the parking trailheads
- Fire season TFRs (June-October) are issued with 24-48 hours notice; UAS flights during active fire TFRs risk mid-air collision with air tankers
- Eugene Airport (EUG) Class C is ~35 NM west; Portland Hillsboro (HIO) is ~80 NM north

### Key Rules
- Check FAA TFR viewer daily during fire season before flying anywhere in the Cascades
- Fire suppression aircraft have priority in all TFR zones -- drone operators are liable for delays or hazards
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial filming outside Wilderness

### Source
- USFS Willamette: https://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette

## Drone Rules - Gifford Pinchot NF, Washington

**Mount Adams Wilderness (47,000 acres)** bans drones; an active TFR (Class B-type restriction) is maintained around the Mt. St. Helens volcanic crater.

### Airspace / Site Context
- The Mt. St. Helens TFR (approximately a 5-mile radius from the summit) restricts aircraft below 10,000 ft MSL without prior coordination with USFS
- Mount St. Helens NVM is managed by USFS (not NPS) but drone flights within the monument require a Special Use Permit
- Portland International (PDX) Class B is ~50 NM south; Pearson Field (VUO) Class D is ~40 NM south

### Key Rules
- Check FAA TFR site for current Mt. St. Helens volcanic restriction before flying near the mountain
- Mount Adams Wilderness boundary begins at tree line (~6,500 ft MSL); drone pilots above tree line need to confirm they are outside the Wilderness
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work anywhere in the monument or forest

### Source
- USFS Gifford Pinchot: https://www.fs.usda.gov/giffordpinchot
- FAA TFR viewer: https://tfr.faa.gov

## Drone Rules - Olympic NF, Washington

**No Wilderness in the national forest itself**, but Olympic NP's no-fly begins immediately at the park boundary on three sides.

### Airspace / Site Context
- The Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is within the NPS; drone operators on USFS land near the Hoh River frequently cross the boundary inadvertently
- Olympic Peninsula has no major commercial airports; Port Angeles (CLM) Class D is ~20 NM from the park's eastern entrance
- Fog and low cloud ceilings are frequent on the Pacific coast portions; VFR minimums may be marginal

### Key Rules
- Download Olympic NP boundary into app; the forest/park boundary is dense forest with no physical markers
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial filming in national forest
- Tribal lands (Quinault Reservation) abut the forest's southern edge; tribal government approval required for overflights

### Source
- USFS Olympic: https://www.fs.usda.gov/olympic

## Drone Rules - Gila NF, New Mexico

**Gila Wilderness (558,000 acres)** is the world's first designated Wilderness; all motorized equipment including drones is prohibited.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Designated by Aldo Leopold in 1924; the no-motorized-use legacy is fiercely protected by land managers
- Adjacent Aldo Leopold Wilderness (202,000 acres) and Blue Range Primitive Area in neighboring Apache-Sitgreaves NF add to the roadless complexity
- Grant County Airport (SVC) Class G; nearest controlled airspace is Tucson TRACON well to the southwest

### Key Rules
- Gila Wilderness is often cited in federal UAS enforcement training as the Wilderness with highest historical awareness
- USFS Special Use Permit for commercial work in non-wilderness forest portions
- Afternoon monsoon thunderstorms are severe in the Mogollon Mountains July-September

### Source
- USFS Gila: https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila

## Drone Rules - Lincoln NF, New Mexico

**White Mountain Wilderness (48,873 acres)** bans drones; White Sands Missile Range R-5107 and Holloman AFB airspace are active threats to the west.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Holloman AFB (HMN) Class D is ~20 NM west of Cloudcroft; R-5107 (WSMR) can extend to FL180 and is activated frequently
- Cloudcroft area (8,650 ft MSL) -- high-altitude density altitude; plan battery life accordingly
- Sacramento Mountains and Mescalero Apache Reservation border the forest to the east and south -- tribal airspace rules apply on reservation land

### Key Rules
- Check WSMR R-5107 activation status via FAA TFR viewer before every flight in the Sacramento Ranger District
- Mescalero Apache Reservation: tribal government requires prior approval for any flight over reservation land
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work in the forest

### Source
- USFS Lincoln: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln

## Drone Rules - Coronado NF, Arizona

**No Wilderness prohibition (outside Mt. Wrightson Wilderness)**, but military restricted airspace and border security TFRs are the primary operational hazard.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Fort Huachuca (FHU) Class D is ~10 NM east of Carr Canyon; R-2303 (Ft. Huachuca) restricted area covers portions of the Huachuca Mountains
- Davis-Monthan AFB (DMA) Class D and MOA airspace overlaps the Santa Catalinas near Tucson
- CBP/DHS border TFRs are issued with little notice near the Mexico border (Santa Cruz County portions of Coronado)

### Key Rules
- Check D-NOTAM and FAA TFR viewer before every flight in Cochise and Santa Cruz County portions
- Mt. Wrightson Wilderness: standard Wilderness motorized prohibition applies
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial photography in the forest

### Source
- USFS Coronado: https://www.fs.usda.gov/coronado