The TFR That Was, The President That Wasn’t … There

Saturday (according to a TFR issued May 20) saw the airspace around Austin (Texas) Bergstrom International Airport restricted for GA traffic and open for the president … who showed up but then skipped the event he was in town to see. Alas, the Temporary Flight Restriction, which read in part, “AIRCRAFT FLIGHT OPERATIONS ARE PROHIBITED WITHIN 30 NMR UP TO BUT NOT INCLUDING FL1801” … and then in part two… “ALL AIRCRAFT ENTERING OR EXITING THE 30 NMR TFR SHALL BE ON AN ACTIVE IFR OR VFR FLIGHT PLAN” was offered to the flying public regardless of (clarity or) presidential presence. The restrictions were intended to allow presidential access to the area relatively free from free-range light aircraft and allow the proud Bush parents to witness the graduation of daughter Jenna … who also didn’t show up. Consistency, at least. Perhaps some might claim that between the TFR’s wording and its effective implementation in the president’s absence (released two days prior, many pilots had already made other plans) there was shared logic — neither one made all that much sense. And at least we can rest assured that when these restrictions do “successfully” go up, they at least clear the skies for the uninformed, the sinister-minded … and the president.