Bush And Football And UAVs Get Protection

The airspace over Washington, D.C., will be pretty much shut down to GA operations from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Jan. 31, during President Bush’s State of the Union address to Congress. AOPA says the restriction covers 3,000 square miles, and notes that airlines are not affected, and neither are cars and trucks, “which can get very close to the Capitol with much greater payload than a Cessna 172.” AOPA is also not happy about a restricted area along 300 nm of the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona and New Mexico. The “temporary” restriction is in place now through Dec. 31. “Even though the TFR is limited to 12,000 to 14,000 feet and evening and night hours, AOPA believes that the use of ‘temporary’ large-scale flight restrictions for year-long UAV operations is not appropriate,” said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. “We are appealing to the FAA and security officials for less restrictive alternatives for these types of operations.”