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.