The FAA has issued a flight advisory to notify pilots of restrictions that will be in effect in the Washington, D.C., area on Jan. 12, 2016, in connection with the State of the Union Address.
The address will take place between 8 and 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Jan. 12. Modifications to the Washington Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) and the Washington Metropolitan Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) will be in effect. A notice to airmen that describes the specific restrictions will be issued on or about Jan. 6, the FAA said.
According to the flight advisory, Part 135 and Part 91 aircraft on an active IFR flight plan may arrive and/or depart Dulles International Airport, Baltimore Washington International Airport, and Manassas Regional/Davis Airport only. Part 91 IFR and VFR flights will not be authorized to transit through the SFRA with the exception of IFR aircraft landing at those airports.
Egress procedures will be suspended during the notam’s effective period for Barnes, Flying M Farms, Mountain Road, and Robinson airports in Maryland, and Skyview Airport in Virginia.
Authorization to conduct VFR traffic pattern operations at airports in the SFRA will be suspended during the notam’s effective period, as will provisions that authorize ingress and egress procedures for Leesburg Airport.
Restrictions in the Washington, D.C., FRZ during the notam period will include the suspension of operations at Maryland’s Washington Executive Airport/Hyde Field, Potomac Airfield, and College Park Airport.
Drone operators should note that the flight advisory includes their aircraft on the list of prohibited operations: “Model Aircraft, Unmanned Aircraft (aka Drones), Aerobatic Maneuvers, Glider Operations, Parachute Operations, Ultralights, Lighter than Air/Balloon/Moored Balloon, Agricultural/Crop Dusting/Spraying, Animal Population Control, Banner Towing, Utility/Pipeline Patrols, Aircraft/Helicopters operating from a ship or private/corporate yacht, Model Rockets, or Maintenance Flights, Flight Training/Practice Approaches are prohibited – including DOD, Law Enforcement and Air Ambulance.”
AOPA and the FAA are reminding pilots that the notam giving details of restrictions and procedures may change with little or no notice. Pilots are “advised to check notams frequently for possible changes prior to operations in the area.”
Pilots are strongly advised to contact flight service before flight to check for all current notams.
