Conflicting Airspace Rules in Southern Alabama

Bob Johnston · Jan 11, 2019

Besides the ordinance against flying in Orange Beach itself, I"m getting some conflicting airspace info between several apps. B4 U fly has the whole area as a pink(no legend) shaded area between Fort Morgan in west and Navarre to east and Evergreen to the North. Where as several other apps including Go4, UAV Forecast and Airmap all show the usual warning zones and larger airport related pink zones. Some of the airspace restrictions are listed in B4Ufly are, Controlled airspace, restricted airspace, Special use airspace. Can anyone form the area clarify any of this conflicting data?
PS Spark motors started up fine, with low hover and then shutdown per normal.
Thanks

Andre Levite · Jan 11, 2019

I've seen discrepancies between those apps as well -- especially once you zoom in. I usually defer to B4UFly because it is sanctioned by the FAA and that's who you intimately must answer to.

In your particular area the airspace isn't the problem -- it's what's on the ground. That entire barrier island is Gulf Island National Seashore. National Parks are protected areas and universally of limits to drones. In Florida the State Parks are also no-go. Pensacola Naval Air Station has special operations from time to time too.

I think those apps primarily address airspace and miss some other problem areas. I usually check Google Earth and Google Maps to cover all the bases.

sadatoni · Jan 11, 2019

B4UFly marks all helipads, even if it's a concrete pad on some guy's property.

Bob Johnston · Jan 11, 2019

These are screenshots from Airmap and B4UFly. The large pink area is B4U.

Andre Levite · Jan 11, 2019

Bob Johnston said:
These are screenshots from Airmap and B4UFly. The large pink area is B4U.

Wow. Those screen shots tell a much clearer story than the earlier text. It's very strange how different my screen shot is of the Gulf Shores AL area. No pink zone at all (and I have every filter turned ON):

The pink area on your map is much larger and unusual shape compared to most temporary NFZ I've seen in the past. And no NFZ listed around there on the FAA website either. It's absolutely ridiculous that B4Ufly has no legend to explain the colors and help interpret the meaning. It doesn't show up on my AirMap either.

If it was for real I really think it would up on my B4Ufly app, AirMap and the TFZ list. I even checked Elgin and Pensacola AFB. No wildfires either.

I'm stumped and intrigued. There's a Contact Us option in the More tab at bottom but with day 23 of the government shutdown...