Call and call frequently. Over the weekend, the FAApublished NOTAM2/1730 that enlarged P-40, the Restricted Area around Camp David near Thurmont,Md., to twice the size of combined P-40 and R-4009 depicted on the special new”Blue Dot” Baltimore-Washington VFR Terminal Area Chart. Issued onAugust 8, the Blue Dot chart shows P-40 as a circle with a 2.5-nm radius whenthe President is not in residence there, growing to a 5-nm radius when he isthere. Under the period affected by the NOTAM, P-40 grew to a radius of 10 nmfrom 4:00 p.m. local time on Friday, November 8, 2002, through 4:00 p.m. localtime on Sunday, November 10, 2002, with various restrictions for various typesof flight operations … but that’s not all. The Helicopter AssociationInternational (HAI) announced last week that the Secret Service may hope toenlarge P-40 to a radius of 30 nm for future presidential visits. The FAA hasalso published NOTAM2/1393, which extends the duration of 2/0291 through theend of November. The NOTAM prohibits flight operations — unless otherwiseauthorized by ATC — within 5 nm of Camp David and at or below 12,500 feet MSL.
Watch Those TFRs: Example, Ever-Changing P-40
Key Takeaways:
- NOTAM 2/1730 significantly expanded the restricted airspace (P-40) around Camp David to a 10nm radius for a specific weekend.
- The expansion of P-40 was far larger than depicted on the new "Blue Dot" chart, highlighting the importance of checking NOTAMs.
- The Secret Service is considering expanding P-40 to a 30nm radius in the future.
- NOTAM 2/1393 further restricts flights within 5nm of Camp David below 12,500 feet MSL until the end of November.
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