A United States rail union wants the Federal Aviation Administration to ban drones from flying over train yards, citing safety and national security concerns.
The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) said drones increasingly hover over crews during “operations testing.”
“Our rail yards are not laboratories or surveillance zones. They’re our offices,” said Jared Cassity, SMART-TD National Safety and Legislative Director. “When a drone flies overhead, it’s not just a nuisance; it’s a distraction in one of the most dangerous work environments in America.”
Cassity said the larger danger is what happens when drones become normalised in rail yards.
“Once drones are a common sight over critical infrastructure, we lose our ability to tell the difference between a company drone, a spy drone or one armed with explosives,” Cassity warned.
SMART-TD is calling for the FAA to ban all drone operations in active rail environments; require specific FAA authorisation for any exceptions; mandate worker notification before any drone activity; impose strict training, licensing, and security protocols for operators; and conduct risk analyses on drone-related distractions and accidents.
“As a union, we don’t have many dealings with the FAA, but we wanted to let them know that safety concerns on the rail are no joke,” said Don Roach, SMART-TD’s Deputy Director of the National Safety and Legislative Department.
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