Drone video of Kyle Field construction leads A&M to issue stern warning
By Craig Hlavaty
Texas A&M University wasn’t too thrilled with the recent release of a video of the school’s new Kyle Field renovations captured by a drone, the school said in a press release.
One curious fan flew a drone over Texas A&M’s football stadium in College Station to shoot videos of the construction and posted them on YouTube under the user name frisk151.
In the release regarding that clip, Texas A&M reminded the public that the Kyle Field construction site is a restricted area near an airport, and that what they call careless and reckless use of a drone device — an Unmanned Aircraft System — could lead to fines of up to $10,000, according Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.
College Station’s Easterwood Airport is about three miles from Kyle Field.
“The A&M System appreciates the benefits of the UAS technology; however, the safety of the public and workers within the Kyle Field Redevelopment zone are its primary concern,” the university wrote in the release.
The FAA released a fact sheet on drone usage earlier this year, noting that implementing new UAS standards and guidance is a long-term effort. Without proper licensing, drone video like the kind shot at Kyle Field is still more or less a big no-no, according to the federal agency.
Besides YouTube, the Kyle Field videos were seen on online blogs like Sports Illustrated, Campus Union, and SB Nation’s blog, Good Bull Hunting.
Meanwhile on Monday morning, a homeless man ran into the Kyle Field construction area, according to KBTX-TVin College Station. He was arrested by campus police and as of this morning he was in Brazos County custody, charged with criminal trespass.
The $450 million renovation is scheduled to be complete for the 2015 football season, according to the university’s website. It’s said to be the largest redevelopment project in the history of college athletics.
Kyle Field now seats 82,600, but when construction is complete in August 2015, it will hold 102,512, the university said.
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