AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023 - 102

FLY WITH AOPA
No intercepts, please
ADVOCACY /
IN THE NEWS
Violations hurt us all
BY JULIE SUMMERS WALKER
The House passed the Senateamended
version of H.R. 346, the
NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023,
following the passage of the bill by
unanimous consent in the Senate.
H.R. 346 requires the FAA to create
a task force-consisting of aviation
industry professionals, safety
experts, and unions-to review existing
methods for publishing notams
to pilots. The group would examine
regulations, policies, and systems
to provide informed recommendations
to Congress. The bill also sets
a deadline for the FAA to implement
the new notam system and a backup.
aopa.org/pilot/notam-bill
AMONG MANY OF the lasting effects of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, is the
temporary flight restriction, or TFR. TFRs often pop up on very short notice, especially
presidential TFRs (or VIP TFR). VIP TFR also applies to the vice president or other
important government officials, per FAR 91.141. It is issued for shortly before, during,
and shortly after a VIP is expected in an area. This notam may be issued from under a
day to up to a week before the visit and has the highest restrictions. GA aircraft movement
is limited in a VIP TFR.
Pilots should check notams (notices to air missions; formerly notices to airmen) before
each flight. Pilots should obtain up-to-date information about TFRs from the FAA or flight
service. TFRs are issued for safety or security purposes.
A GA incursion of a presidential TFR increases scrutiny from the security and military
services tasked with presidential protection. It also contributes to the idea from some that
more should be done to keep general aviation flights at a greater distance. Incursions attract
media attention and present GA in a negative light. Whenever a general aviation pilot violates
a presidential TFR, a series of events is triggered across the presidential protective
service, law enforcement, and the military. These security services take incursions to the
restricted airspace seriously, and the response extends from the president's immediate
protective service members through to the North American Aerospace Defense Command
(NORAD) system. The offending flight is intercepted, radio contact is attempted, and failing
that, flares may be released to try to gain attention. If an incursion appears to pose an
imminent threat, the use of deadly force could be an option.
Other reasons for issuing a TFR include natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes,
certain major sporting events, and emergency or national security situations.
TFRs include details about who may get approval to fly in them. Typically, only public
safety agencies, first responders, and other organizations such as media may be eligible
for approval. julie.walker@aopa.org
102
AOPA PILOT / August 2023
AOPA's airspace resources
Brush up on your knowledge
of airspace, including TFRs,
download a kneeboard guide for
intercept procedures, learn about
requirements for flying through
the outer ring of some TFRs, and
see what it's like to fly into the
Washington, D.C., Special Flight
Rules Area with these resources:
* Filing Washington, D.C., Flight
Restricted Zone flight plans
* Know Before You Go online
course
* See and Avoid pamphlet
* FAA TFR list
* UAS flight restriction information
* Sporting event TFR venues
* Leidos flight service
* Tips for temporary flight
restrictions and special-use
airspace
* Clarification of flight training
during a standard VIP TFR
* NORAD/FAA intercept
procedures
aopa.org/go-fly/tfrs
30 nm
A presidential TFR is 30 nautical miles of
restricted operations with a 10-mile no-fly zone
in the center.
APIMAGES
DID YOU KNOW?

http://www.aopa.org/pilot/notam-bill http://www.aopa.org/go-fly/tfrs

AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023