This Is "Temporary?"
Flying south for the
winter? Better check the new TFR along the border between the US
and Mexico.
The FAA has established yet another "temporary" flight
restriction (TFR) along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona and New
Mexico. The TFR is in effect from 12,000 to 14,000 feet, and is
active from 5 pm until 7 am. daily.
What makes it so ominous, according to the Aircraft Owners and
Pilots Association, is its size and duration. The 300 nautical-mile
corridor, which is 17 miles wide in most places, is scheduled to be
in effect until December 31 and will likely be renewed next
year.
That's hardly "temporary."
"Even though the TFR is limited to 12,000 to 14,000 feet and
evening and night hours, AOPA believes that the use of 'temporary'
large-scale flight restrictions for yearlong UAV operations is not
appropriate," said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of
government affairs. "We are appealing to the FAA and security
officials for less restrictive alternatives for these types of
operations."
The TFR was created to prevent US Customs and Border Patrol
unmanned surveillance aircraft (UAVs) from colliding with other
civilian aircraft. AOPA says staff from the association met with
FAA and security officials Friday to find alternatives to the
current use of large TFRs to protect UAV flights.
"It's unacceptable to cordon off large areas of civilian
airspace just because a UAV can't detect and avoid other aircraft,"
said Cebula. "We also believe that before the government takes
large chunks of airspace for the long term, the public should have
that chance to make comments, to make sure government officials
understand the impact of their actions on the people they work
for."
Monday's TFR is the second issued along the US-Mexico border
this year -- and like the latest one, that one
is also in effect "temporarily" through the end of the
year.
The FAA doesn't have to solicit public input for a TFR -- but
that's because a TFR is supposed to be a temporary response to an
unforeseen situation.
When the government wants airspace for long-term, official
operations or security protection, the FAA will usually establish a
restricted or prohibited area. And that must go through the
rulemaking process, which includes the opportunity for public
comment.
"We certainly recognize the security necessity to patrol our
borders," said Cebula. "A full examination of the issues might
yield ways to do this without impacting general aviation
operations."
***
NOTAM Number:
FDC 6/0798
Issue Date: January 23, 2006 at 1:53 UTC
Location: Southern U.S. Border, Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), Nogales, Arizona
Beginning Date and Time: January 24, 2006 at 0:00
UTC
Ending Date and Time: December 31, 2006 at 14:00
UTC
Reason for NOTAM: National Security
Type: Security
Replaced NOTAM(s): N/A
Pilots May Contact: Albuquerque (ZAB) Center,
505-856-4580
Affected Area(s)
Area 1
Airspace Definition:
Region bounded by:
Latitude: Longitude:
32�11'30"N 112�56'48"W
31�52'25"N 111�51'00"W
32�02'30"N 111�46'00"W
32�02'30"N 111�36'02"W
31�57'45"N 111�36'02"W
31�49'00"N 111�32'02"W
31�49'00"N 111�04'02"W
31�38'55"N 111�04'57"W
31�36'55"N 111�06'00"W
31�36'55"N 110�45'02"W
31�24'00"N 110�45'02"W
31�24'00"N 110�00'02"W
31�35'00"N 110�00'02"W
31�35'00"N 108�30'00"W
32�02'00"N 108�30'00"W
32�02'00"N 107�00'00"W
31�47'00"N 107�00'00"W
31�47'00"N 108�12'02"W
31�20'00"N 108�12'02"W
31�20'00"N 111�04'30"W
31�57'00"N 113�05'00"W
32�12'00"N 113�05'00"W
32�11'30"N 112�56'48"W
Altitude: From 12000 feet MSL to 14000 feet MSL,
inclusive
Effective Date(s):
January 24, 2006 at 0:00 UTC (January 23, 2006 at 17:00 MST)
- December 31, 2006 at 14:00 UTC (December 31, 2006 at 7:00
MST)
Area 2
Airspace Definition:
Region bounded by:
Latitude: Longitude:
31�36'55"N 110�45'02"W
31�36'55"N 110�30'00"W
31�29'00"N 110�30'00"W
31�29'00"N 110�11'00"W
31�35'00"N 110�11'00"W
31�35'00"N 110�00'02"W
31�24'00"N 110�00'02"W
31�24'00"N 110�45'02"W
31�36'55"N 110�45'02"W
Altitude: From 12000 feet MSL to 14000 feet MSL,
inclusive
Effective Date(s):
January 24, 2006 at 0:00 UTC (January 23, 2006 at 17:00 MST)
- December 31, 2006 at 14:00 UTC (December 31, 2006 at 7:00
MST)
Operating Restrictions and Requirements
No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this
NOTAM (except as described).
Effective Daily 00:00-14:00 UTC (17:00-07:00 Local)
Except as specified below and/or unless authorized by
ATC:
1. DoD aircraft operating:
a. In accordance with a seperation agreement with DHS,
and;
b. Within portions of an active Military Operating Area (MOA)
that are within the special security area descriptive in this
NOTAM.
2. All aircraft entering or exiting the TFR must be on a
discrete code assigned by an Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility.
Aircraft must be squawking the discrete code at all times while in
the TFR.
3. All aircraft entering or exiting the TFR must remain in
two-way radio communications with ATC.
4. Area 2 is not active when any of the following areas are
active: R2303A, R2303B, or R2303C.
5. ATC may provide flight advisories to aircraft in the TFR
concerning national security operations.
Other Information:
ARTCC: ZAB - Albuquerque Center
Point of Contact: System Operations Support Center
Telephone 202-267-8276
Authority: Title 14 CFR section 99.7
FMI: www.aopa.org, www.tfr.faa.gov. Depicted TFR data may
not be a complete listing. Pilots should not use the information on
this website for flight planning purposes. For the latest
information, call your local Flight Service Station at
1-800-WX-BRIEF.