According to data obtained from the FAA by AOPA, there have been 6,658 Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) violations between Sept. 11, 2001, and the end of last month. Broken down even further, 1,632 of these infringements are presidential TFR busts and another 3,254 are due to “Washington, D.C. security-related” breaches, AOPA said. Some 2,672 of the Washington violations are related to pilots straying into the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) surrounding the nation’s capital. The good news is that Washington ADIZ busts are trending downward, an AOPA spokesman told AVweb. Late last year, the FAA introduced a D.C. ADIZ training course, which might account for the decline in these violations. In July, the FAA issued an NPRM mandating this training for entry to the D.C. ADIZ airspace, but the agency has not yet codified this requirement. The comment period for this NPRM ended Sept. 5. Depending on individual circumstances, TFR violations can result in anything from a warning letter to certificate suspension. In more serious TFR incursions, violators can be forced down by the military and dealt with on the ground by Secret Service agents.
Stunning Number Of TFR Violations Since 9/11
Key Takeaways:
- Over 6,600 Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) violations have occurred since 9/11/2001, with more than half linked to Washington, D.C. security breaches, particularly the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
- D.C. ADIZ violations are currently trending downward, possibly due to a new FAA training course, which the agency has proposed making mandatory for D.C. ADIZ entry.
- Consequences for TFR violations range from warning letters and certificate suspension to military interception and Secret Service involvement for more serious incursions.
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