Small Plane Diverted as Bush Leaves Philly (Fox)

[stevedeshazer]

The military says two F-16s were called in today to divert a small plane flying in unrestricted air space as President Bush left Philadelphia.

WCAU TV reports that the two fighter jets used flares to get the pilot's attention and order the plane to land at a small airport in Medford, New Jersey.

No word on the pilot's name or whether any charges will be filed.

The president was leaving Philadelphia on Air Force One at about 12:30 p.m., after giving a speech to fellow Republicans, when the plane was diverted about 20 miles east of the city.

source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,110078,00.html

[Dookus]

1. I'm confused....

why was the airspace unrestricted? How could charges possibly be filed for flying in unrestricted air space?

[stevedeshazer]

2. You're not the only one

Because it was Bush, I guess. USA PATRIOT Act, ya know. It's double top secret. National security. Nothing to see here.

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Does the FAA designate a specific amount of airspace

as restricted when AF1 is in a specific area?

[pa28]

9. The answer is no

There are restricted overflight areas that follow chimpy when he is on the ground. Once af1 is flying only the normal rules apply. This article states the pilot was in unrestricted airspace as well. Looks like another jack-boot violation of civil rights on behalf of his precious hide.

[buckeye1]

11. Yes indeed.

Here is a site that can help.

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2001/010918tfr.html?PF

[Whoa_Nelly]

14. Thanks for the info and response, buckeye1

:hi:

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

13. The pilot probably missed this Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)

which was published in the NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen):

PART 1 OF 3 FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, JANUARY 31, 2004 LOCAL. PURSUANT TO TITLE 14, SECTION 91.141 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS AIRCRAFT FLIGHT OPERATIONS ARE PROHIBITED WITHIN 30 NMR UP TO BUT NOT INCLUDING FL180 OF 395511N/0750848W OR THE OOD033018.5 FROM 0401311450 (0950 LOCAL 01/31/04) UNTIL 0401311810 (1310 LOCAL 01/31/04). WITHIN 10 NMR UP TO BUT NOT INCLUDING FL180 OF 395511N/0750848W OR THE OOD033018.5 FROM 0401311450 (0950 LOCAL 01/31/04) UNTIL 0401311810 (1310 LOCAL 01/31/04). EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED BELOW AND/OR UNLESS AUTHORIZED BY ATC: A. ALL AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS WITHIN A 10 NMR AREA LISTED ABOVE ARE PROHIBITED EXCEPT FOR: 1. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT, DIRECTLY SUPPORTING THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE (USSS) AND THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (POTUS), EMERGENCY MEDICAL FLIGHTS, AND REGULARLY SCHEDULED COMMERCIAL PASSENGER AND CARGO AIRCRAFT THAT MEET OR EXCEED THE TSA(S) DOMESTIC SECURITY INSPECTION PROGRAM STANDARDS AND ARE ARRIVING INTO AND/OR DEPARTING FROM 14 CFR PART 139 AIRPORTS. 2. FOR OPERATIONS WITHIN THE TFR ALL MEDICAL FLIGHT OPERATION END PART 1 OF 3 WIE UNTIL UFN PART 2 OF 3 FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS COMPANIES SHALL COORDINATE WITH THE USSS PRIOR TO THIS NOTAM GOING INTO EFFECT TO AVOID POTENTIAL DELAYS. B. WITHIN THE AIRSPACE BETWEEN 10 NMR AND 30 NMR LISTED ABOVE: 1. ALL AIRCRAFT ENTERING OR EXITING THE 30 NM RADIUS TFR SHALL BE ON AN ACTIVE IFR OR VFR FLIGHT PLAN WITH A DISCRETE CODE ASSIGNED BY AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) FACILITY. AIRCRAFT SHALL BE SQUAWKING THE DISCRETE CODE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN THE TFR. 2. ALL AIRCRAFT ENTERING OR EXITING THE 30 NM RADIUS TFR MUST REMAIN IN TWO-WAY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH ATC. 3. ALL AIRCRAFT OPERATING WITHIN THE 10 TO 30 NM RADIUS TFR AND OPERATING AT ALTITUDES OF UP TO BUT NOT INCLUDING FL180 ARE LIMITED TO AIRCRAFT ARRIVING OR DEPARTING LOCAL AIRFIELDS AND ATC MAY AUTHORIZE TRANSIT OPERATIONS. AIRCRAFT MAY NOT LOITER. 4. FLIGHT TRAINING, PRACTICE INSTRUMENT APPROACHES, AEROBATIC FLIGHT, GLIDER OPERATIONS, PARACHUTE OPERATIONS, ULTRALIGHT, HANG GLIDING, BALLOON OPERATIONS AGRICULTURE/CROP DUSTING, ANIMAL POPULATION CONTROL FLIGHT OPERATIONS, BANNER TOWING OPERATIONS, COMMERCIAL CARGO CARRIER OPERATIONS THAT FAIL TO MEET OR EXCEED THE TSA(S) DOMESTIC SECURITY INSPECTION END PART 2 OF 3 WIE UNTIL UFN (emphasis added)

Gee, I can't understand how the pilot might have wandered into airspace where he wasn't wanted.

[ixion]

3. okay... they can scramble two fighters when the chimp is in 'danger'

but they can't manage to intercept ANY ONE of 4 planes on 9-11.

See, it's inconsistencies like this that really bother me.

[loudsue]

5. BINGO!

Different rules apply when royal blood is involved, not just some 3000 slaves working at their desks, and assorted police and firefighters.

:puke::kick:

[stevedeshazer]

6. *ding*

Whoops, that's it.

[bookman]

7. Scrambled indeed

The same thought came into my head. I'm still enraged after hearing the recent tapes from the flight attendent. Something like 23 minutes passed after they id'd the flight as a hijack.

[bobbieinok]

8. headline - ad for billboard

compare number and size of planes 'in wrong place'

compare number and time of planes to 'intercept'

[mn9driver]

10. The FAA issues Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR's) and

Special Notices to Airmen (SNOTAMS)-did I ever mention how much I love acronyms?-when Smirk is in the area. I think it's a 30 mile radius around him.

This guy/gal evidently didn't check 'em out before taking off from whatever airport he left from. Even at small fields, they're usually available in printed form at the FBO desk-for something like this, I'll bet they even had it posted in an "obvious place " so no one would screw it up.

There was a time when you could just hop in your plane and go (weather permitting), but 9/11 changed all that. It sucks, but that's the way it is now.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

12. AOPA has expressed its frustration

Dear Administrator Blakey:

As you are very aware, general aviation pilots have become very frustrated with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) inability to publish timely notification regarding the establishment of Presidential Movement temporary flight restrictions (TFR'S). Less than twelve hours advance notice has become the norm, and the problem is growing increasingly worse with each passing week. To make matters worse, Presidential Movement TFR's have recently ballooned in size from the standard 5-mile radius to a whopping 30-mile radius, which translates into a huge impact on general aviation operations.

Those of us at AOPA who deal with your agency fully understand and are quite sympathetic to the fact that the FAA is dependent on the Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration and others for TFR coordination. However, the FAA has a responsibility as the regulator of aviation to press for a more timely release of this TFR information, and then to execute its rapid release once all the agencies have agreed.

This late notification is particularly troubling because AOPA has no difficultly obtaining President Bush's travel schedule a week or more in advance, through a variety of unclassified public sources.

http://www.oraa.org/new_page_4.htm