Area Around Kennedy Space Center Restricted During Launch
A TFR goes into effect around the
Kennedy Space Center Monday night in anticipation of an early
morning launch Tuesday. Discovery is set to lift off at 0136 EDT
Tuesday morning.
The TFR centers on the Melbourne VOR/DME (MLB) 004 degree radial
at 30.6 nautical miles. and extends out 40 nautical miles from the
surface up to but not including FL180. An inner ring with the same
center point extends out 30 nm. Both expire at the end of
Discovery's launch window at 0256 EDT.
All aircraft operations within a 30 NMR area listed above are
prohibited, except for military aircraft and aircraft associated
with Cape Canaveral Operations, Rescue/Recovery, Medical/Lifeguard,
Emergency Evacuation, Law Enforcement, Department of State and Fire
Fighting Operations which are permitted only with prior approval
from the appropriate ATC facility. Also, IFR regularly scheduled
commercial passenger and all-cargo carriers operating under one of
the following TSA-Approved Standard Security Programs/Procedures:
Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program (AOSSP), Full All-Cargo
Standard Security Program (FACSSP), Model Security Program (MSP),
Twelve Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) All Cargo, Or
All-Cargo International Security Procedure (ACISP) and are arriving
into and/or departing from 14 CFR PART 139 Airports are authorized
transit with ATC approval.
In the 30 NMR and 40 NMR ring, all
aircraft entering or exiting the 40 NM radius TFR must be on an
active IFR or VFR flight plan with a discrete code assigned by an
Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility. Aircraft must be squawking the
discrete code prior to departure and all times while in the TFR.
All aircraft entering or exiting the 40 NM radius TFR must remain
in two-way radio communications with ATC. All aircraft operating
within the 30 to 40 NM radius TFR and operating at altitudes of up
to but not including 18000 FT MSL are limited to aircraft arriving
or departing local airfields. ATC may authorize transit operations.
Aircraft may not loiter. All VFR aircraft operations within the 30
to 40 NM radius TFR are restricted to an indicated airspeed of 180
knots or less, if capable. If unable the pilot must contact the
appropriate ATC facility and advise them of the aircraft's
operational limitations.
Not authorized within this TFR are flight training, practice
instrument approaches, aerobatic flight, glider operations,
parachute operations, ultralight, hang gliding, balloon operations,
agriculture/crop dusting, animal population control flight
operations, banner towing operations, model aircraft operations,
model rocketry, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
In the event that Space Shuttle launch is postponed, pilots
should check NOTAMs for next day launch and applicable flight
restrictions.