U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced Nov. 8 legislation aimed at protecting the public by creating protected airspace during concerts and other events held at U.S. stadiums.
The Stadiums Operating under New Guidance (SONG) Act, S. 2820, was cosponsored by Sen. Blackburn’s fellow Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee member U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) as well as U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN). It grants the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authority to issue temporary flight restrictions during heavily attended stadium events.
“Whether Tennesseans are going to a concert or a UT Vols football game, they should be able to enjoy the fun without worrying about unsafe skies,” Sen. Blackburn said. “This Drone Safety Awareness Week, we are introducing the SONG Act so that stadium patrons across the country can trust they’ll be out of harm’s way while they are at a special event.”
Sen. Markey noted that while the FAA currently has the authority to restrict airspace over sporting events, it does not have the same authority to cover different events, even at the same venue. Sen. Alexander continued, stating that the SONG Act would allow the FAA to issue temporary flight restrictions for smaller aircraft and drones over the stadiums during concerts and special events.
“The safety of our fans and artists will always be our utmost concern,” Sarah Trahern, CEO of the Country Music Association, said. “We are delighted that Senators Blackburn and Alexander are working to allow the FAA to extend the airspace restrictions currently available during live sporting events to also cover large live music events. We believe the safety of music fans is just as critical as that of sports fans. The CMA is grateful for their support.”