Airspace Restrictions Keep Most Planes Away

The image of a modern fighter jet scrambling to intercept a vintage Jenny or Nieuport replica is almost funny... if only it weren't true. Four pilots flying their antique aircraft to the EAA Fly-In in Hagerstown, MD found themselves under escort by F-16 fighters Sunday, after busting a Temporary Flight Restriction over the presidential retreat at Camp David.

Representatives with the FAA tell The Washington Post approximately 12 planes crossed into the no-fly zone from about 0900 to 1200 EDT Sunday, after radio contact could not be established with those planes... many of which don't have electrical systems, let alone radios. The planes came within the 30-mile radius of a TFR over Camp David, and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg.

Four aircraft were intercepted by jets scrambled by the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

At the Hagerstown Fly-In, participants were wondering where the planes were. Their questions were soon answered... as witnesses describe seeing a lone propeller-driven plane, with an F-16 flying circles around it.

"The F-16 is an evil, menacing scary sound, and at the same time -- amazing," said Tracey Potter, owner of Hagerstown Aircraft Services. "I can't imagine what the feeling would be when that fighter aircraft is screaming around you. If he decided to squeeze a couple of rounds off, he'd blow your airplane right out of the sky."

An announcement went out to the crowd describing what was occurring... a scene that outraged some pilots.

"I think these TFRs [temporary flight restrictions] are poorly coordinated, poorly publicized and not very effective," said Dennis Boykin, chairman of the Leesburg Executive Airport Commission -- and who is very familiar with no-fly zones. "It's not that I'm unpatriotic, not that I don't believe my commander-in-chief is special. I just don't understand what they're doing with all these bureaucratic regulations. They haven't convinced me there's a threat from these little airplanes."

Boykin did not attend the Hagerstown event, the Post adds, due to the security restrictions near the airport.

FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown told reporters the pilots who entered restricted airspace could have avoided the incidents, had they had radios onboard, and checked the NOTAMS.

"Pilots are supposed to check the notices to airmen that we put out that are in effect for the area," Brown said, adding the pilots face disciplinary charges... including possible suspension of their pilots licenses.

NOTAM 7/9215 was issued Friday, superseding the original NOTAM 7/9090 due to a change in times.

It would seem the TFR had a definite negative impact on the Hagerstown Fly-In. About 20 planes showed up; the event typically sees well over 100, according to Potter.

"It really killed our event. . . . It's a real kick in the head," said Potter, who spent six months organizing the fly-in.

FMI: www.eaachapter36.org/fly_ins.html, www.tfr.faa.gov