Updated: Presidential TFRs not significantly changed

The FAA considered changes to the gateway airports associated with the presidential TFRs in Palm Beach, Florida, but opted not to implement those changes before the first implementation of the new administration.

TFRs activated to protect the president include a 10-nautical-mile inner core and 30-nm outer ring, both of which extend from the surface to FL180 when the president visits the Bedminster or Mar-a-Lago resorts. VFR and IFR traffic transiting the outer ring are required to file a flight plan, squawk an assigned transponder code, and maintain contact with air traffic control. The FAA posted a TFR at Palm Beach beginning January 31 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time and ending February 2 at 6 p.m. Eastern time—the first of many such TFRs we are likely to see over President Trump’s term.

To avoid inadvertent TFR violations, pilots should routinely check the FAA’s TFR list before flight. TFRs may also be found using flight planning apps, or by contacting Flight Service for a preflight briefing. TFRs may be enacted on short notice after departure, another reason for VFR pilots to request flight following from ATC.

AOPA members are automatically opted in to receive AOPA’s presidential TFR email alerts, which are sent to pilots who live 250 nautical miles or less from the center of an upcoming presidential TFR and are followed up with time and location updates should changes occur. The alerts are provided courtesy of AOPA and should not be relied upon solely but used to supplement the flight planning process.