Chicago Marathon day: FAA bans drones over downtown and the lakefront from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 11
NOTAM FDC 6/7456 is a drone-only security restriction. It covers a box from the surface to 2,000 feet above ground over a large part of central Chicago on the day of the Chicago Marathon.
By Joel Kelly
Decision brief
If you planned to film the marathon, don't. From 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time on October 11, no drone may fly inside the box without a Special Governmental Interest waiver from the FAA. LAANC cannot authorize it. Federal agencies may also take down drones they judge a threat.
- When
- Oct 11, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT
- Where
- Downtown and lakefront box
- Authority
- 14 CFR 99.7
1000 to 2300 UTC
Surface to 2,000 ft AGL
Drone-only; SGI waiver required
The restriction
A drone-only box over central Chicago for most of race day.
The FAA issued NOTAM FDC 6/7456 on October 5. It is a temporary flight restriction for special security reasons under 14 CFR 99.7, and it applies only to drones. It is active on Sunday, October 11, from 1000 to 2300 UTC, which is 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Daylight Time. It covers the surface up to and including 2,000 feet above ground level.
The area is a four-sided box. Its corners are at 41 degrees 57 minutes 15 seconds north, 87 degrees 41 minutes 18 seconds west; 41 degrees 57 minutes 20 seconds north, 87 degrees 35 minutes 19 seconds west; 41 degrees 49 minutes 40 seconds north, 87 degrees 35 minutes 19 seconds west; and 41 degrees 49 minutes 36 seconds north, 87 degrees 41 minutes 4 seconds west. Plotted on a map, that runs from about Irving Park Road south to about 35th Street, and from about Western Avenue east into Lake Michigan. It takes in the Loop, the lakefront parks, and much of the North Side. The NOTAM does not name an event. October 11 is the date the race's website lists for the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
Who can fly
Public safety, event support, or contracted work, with a waiver.
Under the NOTAM, the only drone flights that can be approved are those supporting public safety work, such as law enforcement, firefighting, and search and rescue. Flights supporting the event's own operations qualify too, as does commercial work with a valid statement of work. Each also needs a Special Governmental Interest waiver, requested at waivers.faa.gov. The FAA's System Operations Support Center handles those requests, and first responders can reach it at 202-267-8276.
Before you fly
LAANC will not clear this one.
The NOTAM warns that under 10 U.S.C. 130i and 6 U.S.C. 124n, the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, or Justice may interfere with, seize, damage, or destroy a drone they judge a credible safety or security threat. Crewed aircraft are not covered by this NOTAM.
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