Military withdraws plan for Florida temporary restricted areas

The temporary restricted areas would have been in effect May 11 to 18 within the heavily used Valparaiso Special Air Traffic Rules Area, but would not have appeared on navigation charts—a point AOPA noted when submitting comments on the military’s notice of proposed rulemaking published in February. The proposal also would have essentially closed the east-west corridor established by the special flight rules area when the flight restrictions were in effect.

“The proponent has informed the FAA that plans to conduct hazardous activities have been cancelled; therefore, a requirement no longer exists to establish temporary restricted areas,” the FAA said in a notice published April 24. It added that it had received five comments on the proposal after soliciting public input.

“The FAA had not fully considered the impact this exercise would have on general aviation, and they are passing our feedback on to the Air Force for any future exercise,” said Rune Duke, AOPA director of airspace and air traffic.