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:
- Since 9/11, there have been 6,658 Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) violations, with 3,254 breaches specifically related to Washington, D.C. security, including 2,672 incursions into the D.C. Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
- Violations within the Washington ADIZ are currently trending downward, likely attributed to the FAA's D.C. ADIZ training course introduced late last year.
- The FAA has proposed mandating this training for D.C. ADIZ entry, though it is not yet codified, and TFR violations can result in consequences ranging from warning letters to certificate suspension or even military intervention.
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