TFR
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The President is Coming – Bay Area TFR on Monday
Nov 22 2013The Bay Area is getting another visit from Air Force One on Monday.
Presidential TFR Nov 25, 13
Reid Hillview will be affected by a 32nm TFR centered on the SFO VOR, which means that from 10:15am PST to 3:59pm PST, flights will be restricted. Not prohibited, just restricted.
We will still be able to fly from the airport and come back, but flight plans will need to be filed and activated and a squawk code obtained BEFORE takeoff. Do remember to turn your transponder to ALT immediately after starting the engine. Do not wait till takeoff.
Patternwork is not allowed at RHV during this time.
More stringent restrictions apply closer to the center of the TFR, so don’t plan on any Bay Tours.
See http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_2907.html for more details
REMEMBER – listen to 121.5 at all times unless you are talking to ATC already.
News: TFR in Bay Area, Thu 16th and Fri 17th Feb.
Feb 15 2012
Feb 16-17 SFO Presidential TFR
Air Force One will be landing at SFO Thu 16th around 1pm and leaving Friday 17th around 8:30 to 9am.
Click here for the official FAA link
There will be a TFR centered on the SFO VOR while the President is there, then it moves up to center on the City of San Francisco, then it comes down.
As usual flights in the inner 10nm zone are prohibited, and you will be shot down if you penetrate that zone. In the outer 30nm zone, IFR flights are permitted, as are VFR flights with a previously filed and activated flight plan AND a discrete transponder cone obtained before takeoff.
The good news for us at Reid Hillview is that we are not covered by this TFR, although it starts just NW of us at the 680 freeway.
Study the details, they may interfere with your plans for Bay Tours or the like, and make sure you are listening to 121.5Mhz at all times when you are not in touch with ATC.
No Bay Tours this weekend – the Fleet is in Town
Oct 05 2011Starting Thursday Oct 6th and running throught Sunday Oct 9th, Fleet Week activities will cause Temporary Flight Restrictions over San Francisco. The TFR is a 5 mile circle centered on a spot somewhere between Alcatraz and the City.
Fleet Week TFR
The current NOTAM describes it in detail. Basically, if I am reading it correctly, the TFR is active Thursday 12noon till 6pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11 till 5pm. But NOTAMs have a way of changing so be sure you get a briefing before you fly.
The President is coming!
Sep 22 2011You really do not want to see one of these coming at you. Plus his wingman is watching from behind!
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The CiC is going to be in town Sunday and Monday. You already know what that means – Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs). This NOTAM has just been published. Here’s also a picture:
As usual there are two levels of restrictions. Within 10 nautical miles we simply cannot fly. All flight except law enforcement and military is prohibited.
Within 30 nm we can fly, but we need to have a flight plan prefiled and opened before takeoff, and a discrete transponder code also assigned before takeoff.
Similarly when returning, we need to be on a prefiled and activated flight plan, and squawking a discrete transponder code.
If you break any of these rules, you will be intercepted. You do know your intercept procedures don’t you? Maybe time to refresh? AOPA Publishes a handy card for your kneeboard.
Also, many pilots seem to have forgotten that FDC NOTAM 4/4386 is still in force and requires us to listen to 121.5MHz whenever we are able. So do not switch off that radio, tune it to 121.5 and listen. See below (emphasys is mine):
!FDC 4/4386 FDC SPECIAL NOTICE… NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM INTERCEPT PROCEDURES. AVIATORS SHALL REVIEW THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANUAL (AIM) FOR INTERCEPTION PROCEDURES, CHAPTER 5, SECTION 6, PARAGRAPH 5-6-2. ALL AIRCRAFT OPERATING IN UNITED STATES NATIONAL AIRSPACE, IF CAPABLE, SHALL MAINTAIN A LISTENING WATCH ON VHF GUARD 121.5 OR UHF 243.0. IF AN AIRCRAFT IS INTERCEPTED BY U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT AND FLARES ARE DISPENSED, THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES ARE TO BE FOLLOWED: FOLLOW THE INTERCEPT’S VISUAL SIGNALS, CONTACT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL IMMEDIATELY ON THE LOCAL FREQUENCY OR ON VHF GUARD 121.5 OR UHF GUARD 243.0, AND COMPLY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THE INTERCEPTING AIRCRAFT INCLUDING VISUAL SIGNALS IF UNABLE RADIO CONTACT. BE ADVISED THAT NONCOMPLIANCE MAY RESULT IN THE USE OF FORCE.
Last time the President was in the Bay Area, F16s intercepted and escorted a Mooney which flew into the TFR. He was lucky he was not heading for Palo Alto as he was not listening and had no idea there was a TFR. Flight Service briefing anyone?
News: Presidential TFR in Bay Area April 20-21
Apr 18 2011The Commander In Chief is coming!
What does that mean to us? It means that wherever he is there is a 30 nautical mile ring with flights restricted, and inside that a 10nm ring where flights are prohibited.
You can still fly, just check the NOTAMS before you go. If you are a student, or just unfamiliar with these TFRs, this is a great opportunity to go up with your instructor and learn what is involved.
You do not want to see one of these on your wing! Read on for what you need to do.
F-16 Fighting Falcon
If the NOTAM published today stays unchanged, Reid Hillview will only be inside the outer ring, and then only from 1pm to 4:15pm on Wednesday April 20th. But remember, politicians have a way of not sticking to their published schedules 😉
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ACTUAL NOTAM
Since we will only be in the outer 30nm ring, flights are not prohibited, but they do have some restrictions.
In particular, patternwork, loitering and maneuverinmg flights are not permitted. You can leave the area and you can return. But you must have a valid activated flight plan and a transponder with Mode C and your assigned code BEFORE you take off, or before you reenter the 30nm ring on your way back. You cannot just call ground for a code, you must have filed your plan beforehand with Flight Service. The plan has to be activated before you take off – no taking off first and then calling FSS. You can ask Ground to activate it if they are not too busy, or you can use your cell phone to tell FSS when you will be taking off.
When no longer in contact with RHV tower it would be best to be in contact with NORCAL for flight following. If that is not practical, don’t just switch off your radio, be sure to monitor 121.5. Even if you do not get called, you may well hear the Air Force calling some hapless pilot who forgot.
If you fly into the outer ring of the TFR without following the rules, you WILL be intercepted and you WILL lose your license for at least 90 days. You might like to review the intercept procedures. Don’t ask what happens if you cross the 10nm line!
So please, we do not like to read about our pilots in the papers, at least not for this sort of thing.
And remember the Pilot in Command is responsible for ensuring the flight can be conducted safely and legally.