Drone Show Event on August 19, 2026, on behalf of the USS Midway at South Tuna Harbor breakwater Pier

A 10-minute drone light show is scheduled for August 19, 2026, at the South Tuna Harbor breakwater Pier in San Diego, California, on behalf of the USS Midway, with operations conducted by Tactical Drone Solutions under the oversight of the San Diego Unified Port District. The event will involve approximately 300 drones launched and recovered from a secured, cordoned-off area at the west end of the pier, with the display occurring directly over the water. Setup is scheduled to begin at noon, followed by the show and evening cleanup—all contained within a single day. Public access to the western half of the pier will be restricted two hours before the show to allow for drone preparation, with full closure of the pier enforced during the event; the rest of the Embarcadero will remain open for public viewing at no cost. A temporary safety perimeter using stanchions and caution tape will be established and enforced by staff. A dedicated safety boat will be on-site throughout the show to retrieve any drone that descends into the water, and visual observers will be deployed to monitor airspace for aircraft, wildlife, or malfunctioning drones, reporting observations immediately to the Port District. The operation must fully comply with FAA regulations for unmanned aircraft systems, and all necessary federal approvals must be obtained prior to the event. The project qualifies for a categorical exemption under CEQA Section 15304 due to its temporary nature and lack of permanent environmental impact, with no excavation, habitat alteration, or tree removal involved. No formal federal contract clauses, pricing, evaluation factors, or solicitation numbers are specified; the arrangement appears to be a one-time service event under local government oversight with manual payment processing through the San Diego County Clerk’s Office for associated CEQA filing fees. The contractor is responsible for all operational safety, regulatory compliance, and site restoration, with no formal contract type, award criteria, or socioeconomic certifications explicitly defined in the available documentation.