Motopreserve
Drone Enthusiast
The visit by the pope later this month to the cities of New York, Philly and Washington DC have created a special flying restriction. Please be aware of the additional restricted areas and let's keep the drones out of the Pope's hair for a few days
Details below:
NYC (Within 2nm of La Guardia Aiport)
- Area 1 (8:00a – 5:00p EDT, 9/16 – 9/24)
(2nm radius from Latitude: 40º44’59”N, Longitude: 73º58'04"W)
A new FAA NOTAM/TFR has been issued extending the MA restrictions of the Washington Metropolitan Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) out to the limits of the Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) beginning at 3:30p on Tuesday, 9/22, and continuing until 4:40p EDT on Thursday, 9/24. The TFR is issued for security purposes to cover VIP movement related to the Papal visit to Washington, DC. Radio control model aircraft operations are prohibited within the SFRA for the specific times listed below. Existing waivers for the Washington Metropolitan Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) are suspended during this time period. Please note that TFRs are subject to change with very short notice. Check back often for the most current NOTAM/TFR information. Timely alerts are also available on the web or on your cell phone at: Twitter.com/amagov.
See the link to the TFR below for more detailed information regarding the restrictions:
Map View of the Special Flight Rules Area
- Area 1 (9/22, 3:30p – 9/24, 4:30p EDT)
(30nm radius from Latitude: 38º51’34”N, Longitude: 77º02'11"W) - FRZ - Approx, 15nm radius from Latitude: 38º51’34”N, Longitude: 077º02'11"W The DC FRZ is that airspace depicted beginning at Latitude: 38º59’31”N, Longitude: 077º18'30", thence clockwise along a 15nm arc from the DCA/VOR (Latitude: 38º51’34”N, Longitude: 077º02'11"W) to Latitude: 39º06’28”N, Longitude: 077º04'32"W, thence southeast via a line drawn to Latitude: 39º02’18”N, Longitude: 076º50'38"W, thence south via a line drawn to Latitude: 38º59’01”N, Longitude: 076º48'32"W, thence clockwise along a 13nm arc from the DCA/VOR to Latitude: 38º50’53”N, Longitude: 077º18'48", thence north to the point of beginning, excluding the airspace within a 1nm radius of Freeway Airport, Mitchellville, MD. The FRZ is within and part of the Washington Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA)
Regards
Government Relations Support Team
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In a security zone (Temporary Flight Restriction – TFR) those monitoring the airspace must be able to tell friend from foe and in the case of unmanned aircraft there currently is no definitive way of making this distinction. It is also necessary to clear the security zone as much as possible to allow intercept forces to transit safely through the airspace. As such, the current procedure is to ground all nonessential air operations within the TFR. This includes unmanned aircraft, radio control model aircraft and all other aero sport activity.
AMA is currently working with FAA’s Special Operations Security division along with the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the other sport aviation groups in an effort to obtain relief for our members and the aero sport community in general.
In this effort, AMA achieved a small victory by gaining clarification regarding the intent of the restrictions. Previously the NOTAMs spoke to prohibiting “model aircraft” operations within the TFR. This left unclear whether this included control line and free flight activities. AMA sought clarification from the FAA Special Operations Security Center (SOSC) and was able to get this issue resolved. The language in TFRs now refers to “radio control model aircraft”, a small concession but a step in the right direction. AMA has also been successful in obtaining waivers for MA activities when short notice TFRs conflict with high-profile events.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the federal government and national security the wheels turn very slowly. AMA suspects it may be some time before we see any significant relief, and we may not see any real change until there is a change for the better in the global political environment.