Several presidential-election TFRs in effect

Beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (2200Z) on Election Day, Nov. 8, five TFRs will be in effect in the vicinity of the residences of the candidates for president and vice president of both parties, and other locations prohibiting flight within specified distances and beneath specified altitudes as published at locations in Richmond, Virginia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Chappaqua, New York; and New York City.

Security officials have informed AOPA that additional TFRs may be implemented in airspace where the candidates’ campaign headquarters are located, and at officials’ secondary residences, said Nobuyo Sakata, AOPA director of aviation security.

AOPA’s Pilot Information Center will send alerts to members who live within 250 nautical miles of locations where VIP TFRs will be in effect.

Full-time TFRs for the president-elect and vice president-elect will remain in effect until they are sworn in on Jan. 20, 2017. The TFRs in place at their secondary residences may remain active within a one-nautical-mile radius and below 1,500 feet when the president-elect and vice president-elect are not present. TFRs covering the locations of the candidates not elected will be canceled once the election result is decided.

The TFRs to be in effect starting at 5 p.m. on Nov. 8 include notam number 6/3887 in Indianapolis; notam number 6/3614 near LaGuardia Airport in New York City; notam number 6/3611 in New York City; notam number 6/3616 in Richmond; and notam number 6/3610 in Chappaqua.

Pilots are reminded that numerous VIP TFRs may be active at various times during the post-election period, along with associated airport procedures and/or ramp freezes, on any given day depending on the travel requirements of the officials.

“AOPA remains engaged with the FAA and other government agencies to limit the number of TFRs and minimize their impact on general aviation. AOPA is also working closely with FAA and other stakeholders to improve the graphic depiction of TFRs,” Sakata said, urging pilots to remain aware of TFRs and to check notams carefully before flying.