FAA Says "VIP Visit" Flight Restrictions To Be Announced Soon

The FAA says it has been alerted to a planned VIP visit to Honolulu, Hawaii "in the near future." The agency says that, to ensure the airspace is secure during this visit, it will establish restrictions in the airspace over Honolulu.

The FAA says these restrictions are designed to provide a safe and secure environment for the VIP visit while enabling fair and equitable access by other airspace users to the greatest extent possible. Pursuant to 49 USC 40103(b), the FAA classifies the airspace defined in this advisory and the associated Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which will be published in advance of the VIP visit, as 'National Defense Airspace'. Pilots who do not adhere to the procedures prescribed by the FAA for this airspace may be intercepted, detained, and interviewed by law enforcement and/or security personnel. Any or all of the following actions may also be taken against pilots who do not comply with these mandated procedures or any special
instructions for the defined airspace:

• The FAA may take administrative action, including imposing civil penalties and the suspension or revocation of airmen certificates.
• The United States Government may pursue criminal charges, including charges under Title 49 of the United States Code, Section 46307.
• The United States Government may use deadly force against the airborne aircraft, if it is determined that the aircraft poses an imminent security threat.

The restrictions indicated below will be implemented by the FAA through a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) to be established in the airspace over Honolulu as part of the security measures for the VIP visit. The TFR will be centered on the following coordinates: 212702N/1574605W or the Koko Head VORTAC (CKH) 331011.7 and will include airspace up to but not including 18,000 FT MSL. Operators can expect restrictions in the form of concentric 10NM and 30NM “rings” around the above reference point. The actual time and date for activation of the TFR has not been determined. The  FAA recommends that all aircraft operators check NOTAMs frequently for possible changes and updates prior to conducting operations in or
near to this area.

Pursuant to Title 14, Section 91.141 of the Code of Federal Regulations, aircraft flight operations are prohibited except as specified below and/or unless authorized by Air Traffic Control (ATC) in consultation with the FAA’s Air Traffic Security Coordinators via the Domestic Events Network (DEN). All aircraft operations within the 10NM ring, excluding the airspace southwest of the CKH 285
degree radial, are prohibited except for:

• Approved and pre-coordinated law enforcement and military aircraft.
• Regularly scheduled commercial passenger and all-cargo carriers operating under one of the following TSA-approved standard security programs/procedures: Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program (AOSSP), Full All-Cargo Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program (FACAOSSP), Model Security Program (MSP), Twelve Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) All Cargo, or All-Cargo International Security Procedure (ACISP) and are arriving into and/or departing from 14 CFR Part 139 airports in the area covered by this TFR.
• Approved air ambulance and other emergency/life-saving flights. To avoid potential delays prior to departure, these operators on active life-saving missions should coordinate with ATC at 808-840-6201 prior to departure. This number will become active two hours prior to the activation of the NOTAM.

2011 Hawaii "VIP" TFR

Operations within the airspace between the 10 NM and 30 NM rings identified above, which is known as the “outer ring” are limited to aircraft arriving or departing local airfields. ATC may also, workload permitting, authorize transit operations. Aircraft may not loiter. All aircraft must be on an active IFR or VFR flight plan with a discrete code assigned by an ATC facility. Aircraft must be squawking the discrete code prior to departure and at all times while in the TFR. Aircraft must also remain in two-way radio communication with ATC.

The following operations are not authorized within this TFR: aerobatic flight, ultralight, hang gliding, balloon operations, agriculture/crop dusting, animal population control flight operations, banner towing operations, maintenance test flights, model aircraft operations, model rocketry, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Flight training, practice instrument approaches, seaplane and sightseeing operations are prohibited within the TFR without prior approval. Procedures are being developed that will allow these types of flight operations for regional operators who receive prior authorization from  FAA,Transportation Security Administration, and USSS. Information on obtaining prior authorization will be provided at a later date.

Within a 4 NM ring, up to but not including 14,500 FT MSL, of Dillingham Airport (PHDH), flight training, parachute jumping and glider operations will be authorized from 1900 to 0300 UTS (0900 to 1700 Local) daily. Operators must coordinate with ATC prior to their departure at 808-840-6201. Authorization to operate within this area may be cancelled with little or no notice.

FAA recommends that all aircraft operators check NOTAMs frequently for possible changes to the TFR prior to operations in or near to this area. The FAA point of contact is the System Operations Support Center, available 0600-2200 Eastern, M-F, phone 202-267-8276.

The FAA recommends that all aircraft operators check NOTAMS frequently throughout this event for possible changes and to ensure you have the latest procedures.

FMI: www.faa.gov