Small Dark Aircraft: The Hunt for Drug-Smuggling Aircraft at our Borders Fact Sheet

American airspace is highly regulated and restricted. Planes passing through—whether commercial or private—are required to identify themselves and provide proper credentials so that they may be tracked and monitored. Despite existing security measures, a number of small aircraft—including ultra-lights, small-fixed wing general aviation, and helicopters—are still able to slip through airspace undetected. Known as "small dark aircraft," these planes have become ideal drug-smuggling vehicles.