FAA Steps In With Temporary Flight Restrictions for New Jersey Drones

I said I wasn’t going to make another video about the New Jersey drone situation unless something significant happened — and here we are. On December 19th, the FAA finally stepped in, designating temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) throughout the state. These TFRs define where drone pilots can and cannot fly.

This morning, I woke up to a flurry of text messages linking to articles, including one from 6 ABC Action News, a local Philadelphia station. Their headline reads:

“FAA Bans Drones in Parts of New Jersey, Threatens Deadly Force for Imminent Security Threat”.

I’ll link the article in the description. It includes a short, clipped video from their broadcast, but I want to focus on a graphic they shared. The graphic shows several towns in South Jersey where drone flights are restricted.

The News Reports Make It Look Worse

At first glance, the graphic makes it seem like drone flights are banned in entire townships, but that’s not the case. In reality, these restrictions apply to very small areas within those towns.

To get accurate information, I recommend going straight to FAA documentation rather than relying on news agencies. The media sometimes spins these stories, making the situation look far worse than it is.

For example, I use the Air Control app, which connects to the FAA database and shows exactly where you can and cannot fly your drone.

A Closer Look at the Restrictions

Zooming out on the app, I noticed a large TFR near Delaware, likely due to VIP travel — possibly related to President Biden flying back to the area. These TFRs are common around airports like Philly International or in Delaware.

But what’s more interesting are the small red circles scattered across New Jersey. Let’s break this down:

• Controlled Airspace: Some areas are around specific airports like Lakehurst or McGuire Airbase.
• No-Fly Zones: Within these zones, certain grid sections are entirely restricted (zero grid). Other grids allow flying up to 300 or 400 feet.
• Pocket TFRs: Small, isolated restrictions have appeared throughout New Jersey — near places like Sayreville, Mount Laurel, and Haddon Township.

How Small Are These TFRs?

I zoomed into one of these restricted areas, and it’s only about a mile wide. It’s not as massive as some reports suggest. Clicking on the caution icon reveals more information:

• The TFR started on December 19th at 8:57 AM.
• It’s scheduled to last until January 17th — a full month.

These restrictions prohibit unmanned aircraft (drones) from flying in the area unless you have special authorization.

Why Is the FAA Acting Now?

This raises the question: Why did it take the FAA over a month to respond?

The first reports of drone activity over New Jersey surfaced on November 12th, yet the FAA only acted now. I suspect they implemented TFRs in areas where the most calls and complaints were reported to local authorities. It seems like an attempt to calm public hysteria.

Media Hysteria and Misunderstanding

Unfortunately, this move might have the opposite effect. Media reports claim drones are banned in New Jersey and emphasize extreme measures like “deadly force.” They exaggerate the size of the restricted zones, fueling more panic.

For drone pilots like me, who fly for work and fun, the situation feels unnecessarily blown out of proportion. Most videos shared online and on TV show manned aircraft — not rogue drones. These could be:

• Commercial Planes: Standard passenger flights.
• Private Aircraft: Individuals flying for recreation.
• Military Aircraft: From local airbases, harder to identify.

There’s no solid evidence of rogue drones, hobbyists, or adversarial aircraft. Yet, this has sparked mass hysteria.

The Impact on Professional Drone Pilots

Here’s what worries me:

• These TFRs could expand to cover larger areas.
• More restrictions could be added across New Jersey and other states.
• For professionals like me, who rely on drones to earn a living, this is deeply concerning.

We’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg, and it could have a massive impact on businesses like mine.

Final Thoughts

This is the first major move the FAA has made regarding this situation. I hope it works to calm public panic so the news cycle moves on. However, there’s still a lot of uncertainty:

• Why these specific areas?
• Will this spread to other states?
• What’s next for drone pilots like us?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on what’s happening. Drop a comment below.

Thank you for watching, and as always, I’ll talk to you later. Peace.