Drones are typically restricted in and around D.C., but people may see or hear them in the middle of the night this week.
Local, state and federal public safety agencies are testing technology that detects and tracks unauthorized small, unmanned aircraft, commonly known as drones, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, or COG.
The testing began early Tuesday and is also taking place between midnight and 4 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, with Friday reserved as a contingency day, according to COG.
“This exercise is not a response to any specific threat, and residents should not be alarmed if they see or hear a drone,” the organization said in a Monday statement.
The D.C. region has strict rules governing the recreational use of drones. Flying a drone within 15 miles of Reagan National Airport is prohibited without specific authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration.
This week’s testing comes after the Federal Emergency Management Agency last year awarded about $28.5 million to expand counter-drone capabilities in the capital region, according to COG.
The exercises are intended to test the efficacy of an expanded sensor network and to assess information sharing and coordination among agencies, COG said.
The testing comes after a U.S. military aircraft known as Air Force One when the president is on board flew low over Washington in late October. The unexpected display, which the White House said was to celebrate Halloween, startled some D.C. residents and drew criticism from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois).
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