Archive for year: 2019

The Federal Aviation Administration is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Barry as it continues to move toward land. We are preparing facilities and equipment to withstand storm damage along the projected storm path so we can quickly resume disaster relief operations after it passes. The following guidance applies to travelers, drone users, and general aviation pilots in the affected area:

Travelers

During severe weather, airlines are likely to cancel flights in the direct path of the storm and surrounding areas. Flights that are not canceled may be delayed. Once a storm makes landfall, airports may be listed as open, but flooding on local roadways might limit safe access to airports for passengers, as well as airline and airport employees. As a result, every aspect of your trip to the airport, including parking, checking in, getting through security and boarding could take longer than usual.

As always, check with your airline about the status of your flight before you leave for the airport. Major carriers provide flight status updates on their websites:

• Southwest Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• United Airlines
• American Airlines
• JetBlue
• Spirit
• Frontier
• Allegiant

Please continue to check the status of your flight with your airline, not the FAA. You can also check the status of some major airports in the storm path by visitingFly.FAA.gov, which is updated regularly. You can also checkcurrent travel advisoriesprovided by most U.S. airlines.

Drone Users

The FAA has published a NOTAM related to Tropical Storm Barry for the Coastal Regions of Mississippi and Louisiana.

The NOTAM is valid from Noon CT on July 12 and remains in effect until 8:00 p.m. CT on July 14. A full copy of the NOTAM is available through the FAAs NOTAM search tool, Number: 9/0238

Drone Pilots must be aware of the following:

1. Avoid flying in the area unless conducting an active disaster response or recovery mission.
2. The FAA might issue a temporary flight restriction (TFR) in the affected area. Be sure to check for active TFRs if you plan to fly.
3. Remember that you cannot fly inside a TFR without FAA approval.

Emergency Operations and Response:

You may be able to get expedited approval to operate in the TFR through the FAAs

Special Governmental Interest (SGI) process and is outlined inFAA Order JO 7200.23A.

Be aware that significant penalties that may exceed $20,000 if drone operators interfere with emergency response operations. Flying a drone without authorization in or near the disaster area may violate federal, state, or local laws and ordinances, even if aTemporary Flight Restriction(TFR) is not in place. Allow first responders to save lives and property without interference.

IF YOU ARE NOT CERTIFICATED AS A REMOTE PILOT OR DO NOT ALREADY HOLD A COA, YOU CANNOT FLY.

General Aviation Pilots

Standard check lists are even more important in and around severe weather. Be aware of weather conditions throughout the entire route of your planned flight. A pilots failure to recognize deteriorating weather conditions continues to cause or contribute to accidents.

Hurricane preparedness guidance is available on faa.gov at:https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/hurricane_season/

The Federal Aviation Administration announced today new airspace restrictions effective July 11, 2019 on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) attempting to fly over national security sensitive locations.

The FAA has been cooperating with federal partners to address concerns about malicious drone operations by using the agencys existing authority under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 99.7 (14 CFR 99.7), Special Security Instructions, to establish UAS specific flight restrictions over select, national security sensitive locations.

The FAAs Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), FDC 8/3277, defines these special security instructions.The FAA published a NOTAM, FDC 9/3332, which alerts UAS operators and others in the aviation community of this change and points to FDC 8/3277.

The additional 12 restricted locations requested by the U.S. Department of Defense are identified below.

• Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Adams, PA
• Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, MO
• Pine Bluff Arsenal in White Hall, AR
• Tooele Army Depot in Tooele, UT
• Hawthorne Army Depot in Hawthorne, NV
• Pueblo Chemical Depot in Pueblo, CO
• Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown, IA
• Watervliet Arsenal in Watervliet, NY
• Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, KY
• Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, PA
• Rivanna Station in Charlottesville, VA
• Maui Space Surveillance Site in Maui, HI

UAS operators, in particular, are urged to review the special security instructions prescribed by FDC 8/3277 and the important supporting information provided by the FAAs UAS Data Delivery System (UDDS) website.The UDDS website provides easy access to the text of FDC 8/3277 and other UAS-specific security NOTAMs; a current list of the airspace to which these special security instructions have been applied, supported by an interactive map and downloadable geospatial data; and other crucial details.A link to these restrictions is also included in the FAAs B4UFLY mobile app.

The new UAS flight restrictions highlighted above and by FDC 9/3332 are pending until they become effective on 07/11/2019. UAS operators should keep in mind that access to the airspace identified by FDC 8/3277 and UDDS is strictly controlled.Operators who violate these flight restrictions may be subject to enforcement action, including potential civil penalties and criminal charges.

The FAA is continuing to consider additional requests by eligible Federal security agencies for UAS-specific flight restrictions using the agencys 14 CFR 99.7 authority as they are received. The FAA will announce any future changes, including additional locations, as appropriate.

For further, broader information regarding flying drones in the National Airspace System, including frequently asked questions, please refer to the FAAs UAS website.