[JYO] TFR expected for Washington, D.C., area for State of the Union speech

TFR expected for Washington, D.C., area for State of the Union speech

Update: Jan. 23, 6:08:39 PM ET — Pilots in the Washington, D.C., area can 
expect flight restrictions during President Bush's State of the Union address 
next Tuesday evening (January 28). Security officials have informed AOPA that 
a 30-nm temporary flight restriction around the nation's capital is being 
considered for approximately three to four hours during the President's 
speech to Congress and the nation. General aviation operations (Part 91 and 
135) on instrument flight plans will likely be allowed to fly within the 
restricted airspace. Officials are still considering whether to permit VFR 
operations with discrete transponder codes and communication with ATC.

The TFR will be monitored closely for violations. In a meeting Thursday 
afternoon with AOPA President Phil Boyer and Andy Cebula, an AOPA senior vice 
president, a high-ranking security official said, "No pilot wants to make 
that mistake."

AOPA recently called on newly confirmed Secretary of Homeland Security Tom 
Ridge to avoid last-minute restrictions and to ensure that pilots were given 
adequate advance warning of a TFR surrounding the event.

"While AOPA is not advocating for a TFR for the President's upcoming State of 
the Union address," AOPA President Phil Boyer said in a letter to Ridge, "we 
would surmise that with all of Congress, the Administration, and many 
celebrities in the same place, airspace around the nation's capitol will be a 
concern."

The TFR surrounding last year's State of the Union address was issued just 
hours before the speech.

Pilots are reminded to check notams prior to any flight for the latest 
information.

03-1-040x

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