TFR Busted.....

It wasn't me.

But this weekend in the Twin Cities we had obama here and there was the Presidential TFR in effect. A guy took off in his plane from inside the TFR and the fbo where we were hanging out gets a call from Homeland Security asking the N number of the aircraft that just left. We did not know who it was but he returned in about a half hour after floundering around in the practice area. Upon arrival we told him of his transgressions and he was understandably pissed at himself. He was asked to call Minneapolis approach. they got his name number and address and told him that he would be contacted.

he said " I thought it was kinda quiet for a pretty saturday"

My only point is this - dont forget to call...even if the weather is CAVU.

Turns out there was more than one person who busted the same TFR.

We had a guy to the same in here in Memphis during a Bush visit about 3 years ago. His Lancair was promtly escorted back to the pavement by 2 F-16's. He wasn't in the air 4 minutes.

He's an airline pilot and it doesn't look good on a professional record!

TFR's scare me more than weather cause you don't see them coming and they aren't predictable. Obama travels ALOT. I check TFR's before weather usually.

There are some programs that make the charts easy to find. ie Navmonster. I personally would like to see a big deal and easy access made of them like a dedicated website you access for 5 seconds to "clear the area" before you fly.

another reason to be out of the metro Grant. We don't have to worry about "the won" ever swooping in to trouble our sang froid and we had a BLAST flying the lakes on what turned out to be a perfect, warm, no wind, butter smooth air, towering cumulus, blue sky and sunshiny Saturday. Couldn't have asked for better camera weather and took full advantage of it... The B-25 from Holman was in the air as well giving hops. 8)

I'm starting to get hives every time I have to run down 94 past Rogers... :roll:

Living fairly close to Chicago we are now it the boat the Crawford,TX folks were in for 8 years. One of the airports of choice is South Bend, IN and that puts us right in it.
If you are a member of AOPA they have a TFR alert service and will sent you an email as soon as a TFR is listed for your area. They send you another a few hours before it goes into affect. Works great!!

OR, just call (800) WXBRIEF prior to EVERY flight, and ask for NOTAMS, if you don't want a standard briefing.

The point of this is, it gets the briefing information ON TAPE, so that if anyone ever questions what happened, you can refer them to your official briefing.

Self briefing on the internet has its benefits, and I do so regularly, but I also CALL AFSS to get it on the record. It doesn't take long.

Finally, as long as you're outside the inner circle (10 miles??) on the presidential TFR, you CAN fly inside the outer circle. Its just that they need to know who you are, and be expecting you.

It ain't that hard folks. Unfortunately, flying isn't as user friendly as it has been for many years, but giving a call to FSS, even on a local traffic pattern flight, isn't too much of a penalty to pay...

MTV

Mike you are absolutely right.I call Wx Brief as I walk to my hangar and I am finished in a couple minutes.I have found in the last year that the folks briefing are getting a lot better and many have aviation backgrounds.All have been a pleasure just to talk to.It really is a very simple thing to do.

Bill

To chime in with Mike, I flew out of ANE on a VFR squawk code without any problems, provided I remained outside the inner ring.

Wow, I am sorry for those of you who live near Chicago...this is very frustrating.

rsc

On 131 July I departed NH for my return trip to MA with a 24 stop in Valparaiso, IN for a USMC squadron reunion . After landing I got a hot dog and soda as the EAA had a food tent set up for Oshkosh aircraft in transit.

As I was finishing my dog off, a Super Cub landed and parked next to my
12 and I engaged the pilot in conversation as I knew that he was not coming from New Holstein. It was a beautiful cream colored 18 based out of Pittsburgh returning from Oshkosh. I asked the pilot if he had heard of SC.Org and he said he had, but he had not joined, but that he was a lurker. His aircraft was crammed with camping gear and I got the impression that he was an ATP/professional pilot. The pilot of the 18 asked me which route I had taken south bound. I replied that I flew from NH west of Chicago and around the college that has their own airport and thence to Valparaiso. He asked why I didn't fly the shoreline to the east. I
responded because of the TFR. The look on his face was just this side of panic. He said "you're not serious." I said, "VP Biden is in Chicago and there are several TFR's." I said, I wouldn't be too worried---you didn't get intercepted." "I thought the guy was going to throw up. He literally ran into the FBO and I didn't see him again.

When GHWB and GWB were at Kennebunkport two years ago I was flying up to Phil Zinc's for the fly in. On the return trip, Portland app cleared me direct from Lewiston, ME to KPYM . That route took me approx 2 miles or less at 2900 by Pease, AFB. Air Force One sitting right on the tarmac. I guess I was approx 10-15 miles from Kennebunkport. Still gave me the heebee jeebee's. After I got handed over to Boston, they asked me to expedite my departure from the area. I politely responded that no matter how much I flog her---she ain't going to go any faster!

TFR Busted

Politics aside, I am glad the Crawford TFR is gone. Unfortunately, Bush still has a full time prohibited area over his ranch and his residence. They are not expanding P-49 anymore. The Crawford TFR pretty much ruined VFR flying in Central Texas for 7 years. Now that a big area like Chicago is getting a taste of frequent presidential TFR's, maybe there will be some political pressure to scale back the airspace security.

Seconding Mike V.'s point, I always call Wx Brief now even if I am staying in the patch. I like being on record with a briefer.

On an aside, I took off Saturday morning from Aspen, Co. enroute to Fort Worth Meacham. Due to weather, I ended up spending the night at our family ranch north of Hebbronville, Texas (near Laredo). A modest 400 nm off course. It was the longest diversion I have ever made. This low pressure has made for some interesting flying over the last few days.

Re: TFR Busted

Lasater said:

Politics aside, I am glad the Crawford TFR is gone. Unfortunately, Bush still has a full time prohibited area over his ranch and his residence. They are not expanding P-49 anymore. The Crawford TFR pretty much ruined VFR flying in Central Texas for 7 years. Now that a big area like Chicago is getting a taste of frequent presidential TFR's, maybe there will be some political pressure to scale back the airspace security.

Seconding Mike V.'s point, I always call Wx Brief now even if I am staying in the patch. I like being on record with a briefer.

On an aside, I took off Saturday morning from Aspen, Co. enroute to Fort Worth Meacham. Due to weather, I ended up spending the night at our family ranch north of Hebbronville, Texas (near Laredo). A modest 400 nm off course. It was the longest diversion I have ever made. This low pressure has made for some interesting flying over the last few days.

Click to expand...

Geez that's one hell of a divert.I thought you were kidding at first.

TFR Busted

In interest of full disclosure, I was flying a Caravan and not the cub. But it was still a long time sitting in the air.

Ed

The FAA Called me personally to remind me of the TFR in Minneapolis on Thursday. Why you may ask? Because during the RNC last year I got busted. This year they called me and asked me to tell my friends. I did and did stopped one of my friends from making this mistake as he was about ready to take off my grass runway Saturday morning. He would have been busted for sure as he had no clue. I feel sorry for the ones that get busted. Its a real pain dealing with it after the fact. Mandatory 30 day suspension and they will check all your logbook and aircraft records. I have a grass strip near Delano MN. Its not a big deal to call 1-800-WXBRIEF before you fly and ask for Notams. I do it now but did not before but it really helps when The FAA calls you and tells you. I suppose they figure if they call the past TFR Busters the word will get out. I think they may have a point.