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Drone Rules for White Sands National Park
New Mexico (NM)
• United States
New Mexico, USA
Lat: 32.7873 • Lng: -106.326
Rules Edit History: White Sands National Park
Showing changes between revisions.
Mapped shape change
Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 30, 2026 11:53 AM
Approved
• Added NPS 36 CFR 1.5 drone prohibition for White Sands NP with WSMR missile range R-5107 surrounding context, US-70 closure schedule, and Holloman AFB adjacency.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.85
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition in White Sands National Park has been approved. This aligns with National Park Service regulations, which prohibit the use of unmanned aircraft in the park to protect public safety, minimize visitor-use conflicts, and prevent unacceptable impacts to scenic values, natural soundscapes, and wildlife. The added context regarding the park's unique features enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/rules.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/whsa — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within White Sands National Park. FAA Restricted Areas R-5107/R-5108 from White Sands Missile Range add federal criminal prosecution risk for unauthorized entry.
- https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within White Sands National Park. FAA Restricted Areas R-5107/R-5108 from White Sands Missile Range add federal criminal prosecution risk for unauthorized entry.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in White Sands National Park. Adjacent to military test range with strict airspace restrictions. | White Sands National Park prohibits all drone operations under NPS 36 CFR 1.5 and sits within White Sands Missile Range restricted airspace, which closes US-70 for missile testing up to three times per week. |
| Mapped shapes | d5b83fbe-0e25-4994-a7f4-468388545163 | 066b1c42-1e9b-4b63-a99d-b3bb43823d1e |
Before
## Drone Rules - White Sands National Park **Drone use is prohibited** at White Sands National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within park boundaries - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Proximity to White Sands Missile Range creates additional airspace restrictions beyond NPS policy ### Source - White Sands Things to Know: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm
After
## Drone Rules - White Sands National Park **All drone operations are prohibited** under NPS 36 CFR 1.5. The park is completely surrounded by White Sands Missile Range, making unauthorized drone flight an immediate DoD security concern. ### Airspace / Site Context - White Sands Regional Airport (KTCS) Class D lies ~45 miles south - White Sands Missile Range restricted airspace R-5107 surrounds the park - US-70 highway through the park closes 2-3 times per week for missile tests on the range - Holloman AFB (KHMN) Class D lies ~20 miles east; F-16 and T-38 operations adjacent ### Key Rules - No drone operations within park; missile range restricted areas adjacent are equally off-limits - Missile test TFRs may encompass park airspace; NOTAM checks mandatory - White gypsum sands ecosystem is unique; Bleached earless lizard endemic species - Apache and other Tribal connections to the region make cultural sensitivity important ### Source - NPS White Sands: https://www.nps.gov/whsa
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## Drone Rules - White Sands National Park + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - White Sands Regional Airport (KTCS) Class D lies ~45 miles south + - White Sands Missile Range restricted airspace R-5107 surrounds the park + - US-70 highway through the park closes 2-3 times per week for missile tests on the range + - Holloman AFB (KHMN) Class D lies ~20 miles east; F-16 and T-38 operations adjacent ### Key Rules + - Apache and other Tribal connections to the region make cultural sensitivity important ### Source
May 29, 2026 6:16 AM
Approved
• Added NPS drone ban for White Sands with military airspace context.
Moderation feedback
NeedsHumanReview
Confidence: 0.70
The outline center is about 10.58 km from the selected place. A moderator should confirm the selected place and outline match.
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/rules.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within White Sands National Park. FAA Restricted Areas R-5107/R-5108 from White Sands Missile Range add federal criminal prosecution risk for unauthorized entry.
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
Click to load this change into the shared map viewer here.
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at White Sands National Park under NPS regulations, controlled by the National Park Service. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without NPS Special Use Permit and DoD coordination. The park is surrounded on three sides by White Sands Missile Range — one of the m | Drones are prohibited in White Sands National Park. Adjacent to military test range with strict airspace restrictions. |
| Mapped shapes | 6e7e5ead-b999-4081-84b2-d3d478e51326 | d5b83fbe-0e25-4994-a7f4-468388545163 |
Before
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS + DoD dual permit - Military R-Area: ⚠️ R-5107/R-5108 active — federal criminal charges ## Geographic Boundaries White Sands National Park is located in Doña Ana and Otero Counties, New Mexico, in the Tularosa Basin. - Total area: ~145,762 acres - Coordinates: 32.7872° N, 106.3255° W - Includes gypsum dune field (~275 sq miles total dune field), Lake Lucero (gypsum source), and Alkali Flat Trail - Surrounded by White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) on three sides - US-70 closes periodically for missile testing - Nearest city: Alamogordo, NM (~15 miles east) ## Regulations - NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units - 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority - 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park - FAA Restricted Areas R-5107 and R-5108 — active DoD military airspace; unauthorized entry subject to military intercept - 14 CFR § 73.3 — Restricted Area regulations - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class G within park; R-areas active without notice ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - R-5107/R-5108 violation: federal criminal prosecution - 18 U.S.C. § 1030 — unauthorized military airspace entry - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers and/or military police ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required - DoD/WSMR coordination mandatory for any operations - R-area entry requires explicit DoD authorization Submit requests to: White Sands NP Superintendent, 19955 US-70, Alamogordo, NM 88310
After
## Drone Rules - White Sands National Park **Drone use is prohibited** at White Sands National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within park boundaries - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Proximity to White Sands Missile Range creates additional airspace restrictions beyond NPS policy ### Source - White Sands Things to Know: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm
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- - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS + DoD dual permit - - Military R-Area: ⚠️ R-5107/R-5108 active — federal criminal charges - White Sands National Park is located in Doña Ana and - Otero Counties, New Mexico, in the Tularosa Basin. - - Total area: ~145,762 acres - - Coordinates: 32.7872° N, 106.3255° W - - Includes gypsum dune field (~275 sq miles total dune field), - Lake Lucero (gypsum source), and Alkali Flat Trail - - Surrounded by White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) on three sides - - US-70 closes periodically for missile testing - - Nearest city: Alamogordo, NM (~15 miles east) - - FAA Restricted Areas R-5107 and R-5108 — active DoD military - airspace; unauthorized entry subject to military intercept - - 14 CFR § 73.3 — Restricted Area regulations - - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - - Airspace: Class G within park; R-areas active without notice - - R-5107/R-5108 violation: federal criminal prosecution - - 18 U.S.C. § 1030 — unauthorized military airspace entry - - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - - Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers and/or military police - ## Special Permissions - - NPS Special Use Permit required - - DoD/WSMR coordination mandatory for any operations - - R-area entry requires explicit DoD authorization - Submit requests to: White Sands NP Superintendent, - 19955 US-70, Alamogordo, NM 88310
May 28, 2026 11:27 PM
Approved
• Added drone restriction profile for White Sands National Park based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, FAA Restricted Areas R-5107/R-5108, and DoD White Sands Missile Range active military airspace restrictions.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit to add a comprehensive drone restriction profile for White Sands National Park is approved. The information about the prohibition of drone operations in the park is accurate and well-supported by official sources. The outline you provided appropriately matches the selected location. Thank you for your contribution.
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/rules.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm
- https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within White Sands National Park. FAA Restricted Areas R-5107/R-5108 from White Sands Missile Range add federal criminal prosecution risk for unauthorized entry.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in White Sands National Park. Adjacent to military test range with strict airspace restrictions. | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at White Sands National Park under NPS regulations, controlled by the National Park Service. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without NPS Special Use Permit and DoD coordination. The park is surrounded on three sides by White Sands Missile Range — one of the m |
Before
## Drone Rules - White Sands National Park **Drone use is prohibited** at White Sands National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within park boundaries - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Proximity to White Sands Missile Range creates additional airspace restrictions beyond NPS policy ### Source - White Sands Things to Know: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS + DoD dual permit - Military R-Area: ⚠️ R-5107/R-5108 active — federal criminal charges ## Geographic Boundaries White Sands National Park is located in Doña Ana and Otero Counties, New Mexico, in the Tularosa Basin. - Total area: ~145,762 acres - Coordinates: 32.7872° N, 106.3255° W - Includes gypsum dune field (~275 sq miles total dune field), Lake Lucero (gypsum source), and Alkali Flat Trail - Surrounded by White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) on three sides - US-70 closes periodically for missile testing - Nearest city: Alamogordo, NM (~15 miles east) ## Regulations - NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units - 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority - 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park - FAA Restricted Areas R-5107 and R-5108 — active DoD military airspace; unauthorized entry subject to military intercept - 14 CFR § 73.3 — Restricted Area regulations - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class G within park; R-areas active without notice ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - R-5107/R-5108 violation: federal criminal prosecution - 18 U.S.C. § 1030 — unauthorized military airspace entry - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers and/or military police ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required - DoD/WSMR coordination mandatory for any operations - R-area entry requires explicit DoD authorization Submit requests to: White Sands NP Superintendent, 19955 US-70, Alamogordo, NM 88310
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+ - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS + DoD dual permit + - Military R-Area: ⚠️ R-5107/R-5108 active — federal criminal charges + White Sands National Park is located in Doña Ana and + Otero Counties, New Mexico, in the Tularosa Basin. + - Total area: ~145,762 acres + - Coordinates: 32.7872° N, 106.3255° W + - Includes gypsum dune field (~275 sq miles total dune field), + Lake Lucero (gypsum source), and Alkali Flat Trail + - Surrounded by White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) on three sides + - US-70 closes periodically for missile testing + - Nearest city: Alamogordo, NM (~15 miles east) + - FAA Restricted Areas R-5107 and R-5108 — active DoD military + airspace; unauthorized entry subject to military intercept + - 14 CFR § 73.3 — Restricted Area regulations + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - Airspace: Class G within park; R-areas active without notice + - R-5107/R-5108 violation: federal criminal prosecution + - 18 U.S.C. § 1030 — unauthorized military airspace entry + - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day + - Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers and/or military police + ## Special Permissions + - NPS Special Use Permit required + - DoD/WSMR coordination mandatory for any operations + - R-area entry requires explicit DoD authorization + Submit requests to: White Sands NP Superintendent, + 19955 US-70, Alamogordo, NM 88310
May 28, 2026 2:04 AM
Approved
• Added NPS drone ban for White Sands with military airspace context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.95
Your proposed edit has been approved. The updated rule now accurately reflects the prohibition of drone operations in White Sands National Park, emphasizing the protection of its unique environment and the surrounding military airspace.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Permission | NoFly |
| Summary | FAA controlled airspace restriction. Review current FAA data and authorization requirements before flying. | Drones are prohibited in White Sands National Park. Adjacent to military test range with strict airspace restrictions. |
Before
## FAA facility airspace restriction
This area appears in FAA_FS_UAS source data. Drone pilots should verify current FAA requirements, LAANC availability, altitude limits, temporary restrictions, and local conditions before flight.
This page is based on imported FAA data and may need additional community review.
After
## Drone Rules - White Sands National Park **Drone use is prohibited** at White Sands National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone flights within park boundaries - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit - Proximity to White Sands Missile Range creates additional airspace restrictions beyond NPS policy ### Source - White Sands Things to Know: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm
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+ + **Drone use is prohibited** at White Sands National Park. + + ### Key Rules + - No recreational drone flights within park boundaries + - Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit + - Proximity to White Sands Missile Range creates additional airspace restrictions beyond NPS policy + - White Sands Things to Know: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm - This page is based on imported FAA data and may need additional community review.
May 27, 2026 10:57 PM
Approved
• Rollback user history: Included broken and wrong link... In every post. Mass edit spam of national parks adding nothing specific.
Moderation feedback
Administrative rollback audit entry.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | NoFly | Permission |
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in White Sands National Park per NPS closure order. The park also sits within White Sands Missile Range airspace. | FAA controlled airspace restriction. Review current FAA data and authorization requirements before flying. |
Before
## Drone Rules - White Sands National Park **Drone flights are banned** in White Sands National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone use within the park - Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit - The park is adjacent to White Sands Missile Range -- additional airspace restrictions apply - The park periodically closes entirely for missile tests, during which all air traffic is halted ### Source - White Sands NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
## FAA facility airspace restriction
This area appears in FAA_FS_UAS source data. Drone pilots should verify current FAA requirements, LAANC availability, altitude limits, temporary restrictions, and local conditions before flight.
This page is based on imported FAA data and may need additional community review.
Show inline change markers
- - No recreational drone use within the park - - Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit - - The park is adjacent to White Sands Missile Range -- additional airspace restrictions apply - - The park periodically closes entirely for missile tests, during which all air traffic is halted - - ### Source - - White Sands NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/rules.htm -
May 27, 2026 10:17 AM
Approved
• Rollback user history: Bad outlines
Moderation feedback
Administrative rollback audit entry.
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
Click to load this change into the shared map viewer here.
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | NoFly | Permission |
| Summary | Drones are prohibited in White Sands National Park per NPS closure order. The park also sits within White Sands Missile Range airspace. | FAA controlled airspace restriction. Review current FAA data and authorization requirements before flying. |
| Mapped shapes | a526b3ab-7d4a-4f47-b7e6-9d00a0adf615 | 6e7e5ead-b999-4081-84b2-d3d478e51326 |
Before
## Drone Rules - White Sands National Park **Drone flights are banned** in White Sands National Park. ### Key Rules - No recreational drone use within the park - Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit - The park is adjacent to White Sands Missile Range -- additional airspace restrictions apply - The park periodically closes entirely for missile tests, during which all air traffic is halted ### Source - White Sands NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/rules.htm
After
## FAA facility airspace restriction
This area appears in FAA_FS_UAS source data. Drone pilots should verify current FAA requirements, LAANC availability, altitude limits, temporary restrictions, and local conditions before flight.
This page is based on imported FAA data and may need additional community review.
Show inline change markers
- - No recreational drone use within the park - - Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit - - The park is adjacent to White Sands Missile Range -- additional airspace restrictions apply - - The park periodically closes entirely for missile tests, during which all air traffic is halted - - ### Source - - White Sands NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/rules.htm -
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
Click to load this change into the shared map viewer here.
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Rule category | Air | Ground |
| Flight status | NoFly | Permission |
| Mapped shapes | 366b687c-27b9-463f-b581-c7cccd6a68fa | 6e7e5ead-b999-4081-84b2-d3d478e51326 |
May 17, 2026 10:04 PM
Approved
• FAA import FAA_NS_UAS:20230803-DOD-White Sands Missile Range-WSMR Test Site 2
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
Click to load this change into the shared map viewer here.
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Rule category | — | Air |
| Flight status | — | NoFly |
| Summary | — | FAA controlled airspace restriction. Review current FAA data and authorization requirements before flying. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 366b687c-27b9-463f-b581-c7cccd6a68fa |
Before
After
## FAA facility airspace restriction
This area appears in FAA_FS_UAS source data. Drone pilots should verify current FAA requirements, LAANC availability, altitude limits, temporary restrictions, and local conditions before flight.
This page is based on imported FAA data and may need additional community review.
Show inline change markers
+ ## FAA facility airspace restriction + + This area appears in FAA_FS_UAS source data. Drone pilots should verify current FAA requirements, LAANC availability, altitude limits, temporary restrictions, and local conditions before flight. + + This page is based on imported FAA data and may need additional community review.