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Drone Rules for San Francisco Peaks
Coconino County, Arizona (AZ)
• Estados Unidos
San Francisco Peaks, Arizona 86001, EUA
Lat: 35.3467 • Lng: -111.678
Rules Edit History: San Francisco Peaks
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May 29, 2026 12:53 AM
Approved
• Added drone restriction profile for San Francisco Peaks / Coconino National Forest based on USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Kachina Peaks, AIRFA 13-tribe sacred landscape — most multiply-affiliated sacred site in Arizona, FAA Class D FLG, ESA spotted owl, TFR volcanic authority, ARPA Sinagua sites, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
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Sources
- https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Kachina Peaks (16 U.S.C. § 1131), AIRFA 13-tribe sacred affiliation (42 U.S.C. § 1996), FAA Class D FLG authorization, ESA spotted owl critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), TFR volcanic authority 14 CFR § 91.137, and ARPA Sinagua site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-251/section-251.50 — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Kachina Peaks (16 U.S.C. § 1131), AIRFA 13-tribe sacred affiliation (42 U.S.C. § 1996), FAA Class D FLG authorization, ESA spotted owl critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), TFR volcanic authority 14 CFR § 91.137, and ARPA Sinagua site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/data_exchange — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Kachina Peaks (16 U.S.C. § 1131), AIRFA 13-tribe sacred affiliation (42 U.S.C. § 1996), FAA Class D FLG authorization, ESA spotted owl critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), TFR volcanic authority 14 CFR § 91.137, and ARPA Sinagua site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Kachina Peaks (16 U.S.C. § 1131), AIRFA 13-tribe sacred affiliation (42 U.S.C. § 1996), FAA Class D FLG authorization, ESA spotted owl critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), TFR volcanic authority 14 CFR § 91.137, and ARPA Sinagua site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1510/arpa.htm — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Kachina Peaks (16 U.S.C. § 1131), AIRFA 13-tribe sacred affiliation (42 U.S.C. § 1996), FAA Class D FLG authorization, ESA spotted owl critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), TFR volcanic authority 14 CFR § 91.137, and ARPA Sinagua site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Kachina Peaks (16 U.S.C. § 1131), AIRFA 13-tribe sacred affiliation (42 U.S.C. § 1996), FAA Class D FLG authorization, ESA spotted owl critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), TFR volcanic authority 14 CFR § 91.137, and ARPA Sinagua site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.jsp — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Kachina Peaks (16 U.S.C. § 1131), AIRFA 13-tribe sacred affiliation (42 U.S.C. § 1996), FAA Class D FLG authorization, ESA spotted owl critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), TFR volcanic authority 14 CFR § 91.137, and ARPA Sinagua site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-II/part-261/section-261.10 — USFS 36 CFR § 261.10, Wilderness Act Kachina Peaks (16 U.S.C. § 1131), AIRFA 13-tribe sacred affiliation (42 U.S.C. § 1996), FAA Class D FLG authorization, ESA spotted owl critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), TFR volcanic authority 14 CFR § 91.137, and ARPA Sinagua site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | Drones banned in San Francisco Peaks Wilderness under USFS rules. No flights without Special Use Permit and FAA Class D (FLG) authorization. Sacred to 13 tribal nations. Contains Humphreys Peak — highest point in Arizona at 12,633 ft MSL. |
| Mapped shapes | 16a61f05-a487-4845-a9f8-18abe11da1cd | 86f51ca4-0722-4d63-a3be-1f85917a900a |
Before
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned (wilderness and special mgmt areas) - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ USFS Special Use Permit required - Airspace: ⚠️ Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) Class D — ATC authorization mandatory for operations near Flagstaff - Sacred Site Layer: ⚠️ AIRFA — sacred to 13 tribal nations; among the most legally protected sacred landscapes in the U.S. - Wilderness Layer: ⚠️ Kachina Peaks Wilderness ~18,960 acres ## Geographic Boundaries San Francisco Peaks are located in Coconino County, Arizona, administered by Coconino National Forest, USFS. - Total area: ~1,856,236 acres (entire Coconino NF) - Coordinates: 35.3464° N, 111.6780° W (Humphreys Peak summit) - Nearest city: Flagstaff, AZ (~10 miles south) - Nearest airport: Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) ~8 miles south - Terrain: San Francisco Volcanic Field; Humphreys Peak (12,633 ft MSL — highest point in Arizona); Agassiz Peak (12,356 ft); Fremont Peak (11,969 ft); Kachina Peaks Wilderness; Arizona Snowbowl ski area on southwest slopes - Sacred to 13 tribal nations including Hopi, Navajo Nation, Havasupai, Hualapai, Yavapai, Apache, Zuni, and others — more tribal nations assert sacred affiliation to San Francisco Peaks than any other single landscape in Arizona - Hopi: Nuvatukya'ovi — home of Kachina spirits; most sacred site in Hopi cosmology - Navajo: Dook'o'oosłííd — one of four Sacred Mountains defining Diné Bikéyah homeland - Kachina Peaks Wilderness: ~18,960 acres designated 1984 - Active volcanic field — most recent eruption ~1064 CE (Sunset Crater); geologically active system - Flagstaff Class D airspace (FLG) overlaps lower slopes - Airspace: Class D (FLG) lower elevations; Class E above; high-density-altitude above 10,000 ft MSL ## Regulations - 36 CFR § 261.10 — prohibits unauthorized aircraft use in National Forest wilderness and Special Management Areas - 36 CFR § 251.50 — Special Use authorization requirements - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Kachina Peaks Wilderness ~18,960 acres; motorized/mechanized prohibition - American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. § 1996) — 13 tribal nations with active sacred site relationships; San Francisco Peaks is the most multiply-affiliated sacred landscape in Arizona; drone overflight constitutes direct AIRFA violation for all 13 nations simultaneously - FAA 14 CFR Part 107.41 — Flagstaff Class D (FLG); ATC authorization mandatory for lower slope operations - 14 CFR § 91.137 — TFR authority for volcanic/geothermal hazard; San Francisco Volcanic Field active system - Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — Sinagua and ancestral Puebloan sites throughout forest - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Mexican spotted owl; northern goshawk; peregrine falcon nesting - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Mexican spotted owl critical habitat in old-growth spruce-fir forest zones - 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 violations: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months - AIRFA violations: federal civil penalties; DOJ referral possible for violations affecting 13 tribal sacred interests - FAA Class D violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day - ESA Section 9 (spotted owl): civil penalties up to $25,000; criminal up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment - ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment - MBTA violations: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months - Equipment confiscation by USFS rangers ## Special Permissions - USFS Special Use Permit required; 13-tribe AIRFA consultation recommended before any permit application - FAA Class D ATC authorization required for lower slope ops - ESA Section 7 biological assessment required for spotted owl old-growth habitat zones - High-density-altitude performance analysis required above 10,000 ft MSL Submit requests to: Coconino National Forest Supervisor, 1824 S Thompson Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 FAA LAANC: https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/data_exchange
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+ ## Authorization Status + - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned (wilderness and special mgmt areas) + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ USFS Special Use Permit required + - Airspace: ⚠️ Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) Class D — ATC + authorization mandatory for operations near Flagstaff + - Sacred Site Layer: ⚠️ AIRFA — sacred to 13 tribal nations; + among the most legally protected sacred landscapes in the U.S. + - Wilderness Layer: ⚠️ Kachina Peaks Wilderness ~18,960 acres + + ## Geographic Boundaries + San Francisco Peaks are located in Coconino County, Arizona, + administered by Coconino National Forest, USFS. + - Total area: ~1,856,236 acres (entire Coconino NF) + - Coordinates: 35.3464° N, 111.6780° W (Humphreys Peak summit) + - Nearest city: Flagstaff, AZ (~10 miles south) + - Nearest airport: Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) ~8 miles south + - Terrain: San Francisco Volcanic Field; Humphreys Peak (12,633 ft + MSL — highest point in Arizona); Agassiz Peak (12,356 ft); + Fremont Peak (11,969 ft); Kachina Peaks Wilderness; Arizona + Snowbowl ski area on southwest slopes + - Sacred to 13 tribal nations including Hopi, Navajo Nation, + Havasupai, Hualapai, Yavapai, Apache, Zuni, and others — + more tribal nations assert sacred affiliation to San Francisco + Peaks than any other single landscape in Arizona + - Hopi: Nuvatukya'ovi — home of Kachina spirits; most sacred + site in Hopi cosmology + - Navajo: Dook'o'oosłííd — one of four Sacred Mountains + defining Diné Bikéyah homeland + - Kachina Peaks Wilderness: ~18,960 acres designated 1984 + - Active volcanic field — most recent eruption ~1064 CE + (Sunset Crater); geologically active system + - Flagstaff Class D airspace (FLG) overlaps lower slopes + - Airspace: Class D (FLG) lower elevations; Class E above; + high-density-altitude above 10,000 ft MSL + + ## Regulations + - 36 CFR § 261.10 — prohibits unauthorized aircraft use in + National Forest wilderness and Special Management Areas + - 36 CFR § 251.50 — Special Use authorization requirements + - Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Kachina Peaks Wilderness + ~18,960 acres; motorized/mechanized prohibition + - American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. § 1996) — + 13 tribal nations with active sacred site relationships; + San Francisco Peaks is the most multiply-affiliated sacred + landscape in Arizona; drone overflight constitutes direct + AIRFA violation for all 13 nations simultaneously + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107.41 — Flagstaff Class D (FLG); ATC + authorization mandatory for lower slope operations + - 14 CFR § 91.137 — TFR authority for volcanic/geothermal + hazard; San Francisco Volcanic Field active system + - Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — + Sinagua and ancestral Puebloan sites throughout forest + - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Mexican + spotted owl; northern goshawk; peregrine falcon nesting + - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Mexican spotted + owl critical habitat in old-growth spruce-fir forest zones + - 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 violations: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months + - AIRFA violations: federal civil penalties; DOJ referral + possible for violations affecting 13 tribal sacred interests + - FAA Class D violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day + - ESA Section 9 (spotted owl): civil penalties up to $25,000; + criminal up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment + - ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment + - MBTA violations: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months + - Equipment confiscation by USFS rangers + + ## Special Permissions + - USFS Special Use Permit required; 13-tribe AIRFA consultation + recommended before any permit application + - FAA Class D ATC authorization required for lower slope ops + - ESA Section 7 biological assessment required for spotted + owl old-growth habitat zones + - High-density-altitude performance analysis required above + 10,000 ft MSL + Submit requests to: Coconino National Forest Supervisor, + 1824 S Thompson Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 + FAA LAANC: https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/data_exchange