When President Barack Obama travels to Hawaii for the holidays Dec. 20 through Jan. 5, a presidential temporary flight restriction (TFR) will be in place, but thanks to AOPA’s advocacy efforts over the years, certain accommodations have been made for general aviation operations.
“Although no pilot likes a TFR, the reoccurrence of this particular one over the years has led to a workable compromise between security officials and the GA community in Hawaii,” said AOPA Manager of Security Tom Zecha. “With continued suggestions and dialog between the General Aviation Council of Hawaii, flight schools, tour operators, GA industry partners, and the federal government, this compromise keeps GA businesses up and running, which is crucial to their economic survival during this two-week TFR.
“Approved sightseeing routes have been developed for tour operators, flight training and practice approaches have been accommodated, along with parachute jumping and glider operations. Of course, all of these GA activities are permitted with pre-approval during certain times and at specified locations.”
The TFR will be in effect from Dec. 20 at 11:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time until Jan. 5 at 8 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time, extending from the surface up to but not including 18,000 feet msl. The TFR will have an inner 10-nautical-mile-radius GA no-fly zone and a 30-nm radius outer ring that permits certain GA operations.
With prior approval arranged as the notam dictates, flight training operations will be able to continue at Kalaeloa and Dillingham airports. Also allowed are practice approaches at Kalaeloa, training flights from Honolulu International to Kalaeloa and Dillingham, and seaplane operations at Honolulu. Sightseeing operations on pre-approved routes can take place from Honolulu and Turtle Bay Resort Heliport.
In addition, flight training, parachute jumping, and glider operations are authorized within 5 nm of Dillingham Airport with prior coordination.
The notam’s restrictions and permitted operations could change with little or no notice, so pilots are urged to review the notam before flight.
“The local GA community’s adherence to the provisions developed in the notam is paramount to its continued use and success over the next few years under the current administration,” Zecha said. “It also goes a long way in showing that future GA provisions should be considered until we can ultimately work to have them eliminated entirely.”
