Thunder Over Georgia Air Show At a Glance:
◾ Gates open at 9 a.m.
◾Opening ceremonies start at 10 a.m.
◾Admission and parking are free in designated areas.
◾Times and performances are subject to change.
WHAT TO KNOW: The #ThunderOverGeorgia2019 air show is going to be action packed this year! Make sure to bookmark www.robins.af.mil/airshow for all the latest – from performers to tips and parking. Mark your calendars now for Sept. 28 and 29, 2019. Find out more on the Robins Air Force Base website at: https://www.robins.af.mil, and you can follow the air show on Facebook at facebook.com/RobinsPublicAffairs.
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – Base officials are reminding people planning to attend the Thunder Over Georgia Air Show Sept. 28 and 29 if they bring a drone, an F-15 will promptly be dispatched to shoot it down.
OK, so not really.
The 78th Security Forces Squadron will allow you to return it to your car or you can leave it in an amnesty box prior to entry to the Air Show. However, the base will not be responsible for a drone that goes missing from the box, so it’s best if you just leave it at home.
Simply put, drone flying is prohibited at Robins Air Force Base. Drone enthusiasts are reminded that, per the Federal Aviation Administration, drones can’t be flown within a 5-mile radius of military airfields or commercial airports.
Further, according to the FAA, all drones are aircraft – even the ones bought at the toy store. What that means is operators of a drone have the same responsibilities as a pilot of a passenger airplane.
Faye Banks-Anderson, 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs director, said in addition to being against FAA rules, there are very real safety concerns, and base officials are stringently going to uphold the no-drone rule.
People who witness drones or drone operators in violation of the rule should contact the Base Defense Operations Center at (478) 926-2187. For a complete listing of the FAA rules regarding the operation of unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, visit www.faa.gov.
"Flight safety is a huge concern for our pilots and aircraft,” Banks-Anderson said. “We want to make sure everyone who attends the air show has a good time in a safe environment."
Editor’s note: All acts are subject to change.