Feds issue flight restrictions for inauguration

Federal regulators announced new flight restrictions in and around Washington during President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Friday.

The added security measures will be in place Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. During that time frame, all unauthorized flight operations will be prohibited within a 30 nautical mile radius of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). 

No general aviation flights will be allowed to pass through that airspace, and exit procedures normally permitted at several of the area’s general aviation airports will also be suspended.

{mosads}Aircraft that get approval to fly in the airspace must be on an active flight plan, have a discrete transponder code and remain in continuous communication with air traffic control.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is expecting between 800 and 1,100 general aviation aircraft to be traveling to the nation’s capital for inaugural events — several hundred more aircraft than arrived for the 2013 inauguration.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also reminding drone users that the airspace around the Washington area is already a no-drone zone. 

Other prohibited operations on Friday include: flight training, parachute operations, hang gliding, balloon operations, tethered balloons, crop dusting, model aircraft operations and helicopters operating from a ship or yacht.

Anyone who violates the FAA’s flight restrictions could face civil or criminal penalties and may be intercepted, detained and interviewed by law enforcement, the agency said.

The AOPA is urging pilots to frequently check “Notice to Airmen” notifications, as they are subject to change on short notice.