If you plan to fly anywhere near Thurmont, Maryland (May 18-19) or Chicago (May 19-21) be very careful. Thurmont is playing host to a G-8 Summit while a NATO Summit will be Chicago. Flight Advisory’s for Thurmont and Chicago events have been posted to the FAA website.
The language in these advisories are very strong. “The restrictions are designed to provide a safe and secure environment for the event” and “The United States Government may use deadly force against the airborne aircraft, if it is determined that the aircraft poses an imminent security threat.”
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) will encircle both events of course. Rings of 10nm and 30nm have varying levels of activity. Not surprisingly: all GA within the 10nm ring is prohibited. “Regularly scheduled commercial aircraft,” however will be allowed to operate.
For those inside the 30nm ring but outside the 10nm ring, all aircraft must be on an IFR or VFR flight plan squawking a discrete code. Oh, and none of the following activities will be allowed:
- Flight training
- Practice instrument approaches
- Aerobatic flight
- Glider operations
- Seaplane Operations
- Parachute operations
- Ultralight, hang gliding
- Balloon operations
- Agriculture/crop dusting
- Animal population control flight operations
- Banner towing operations
- Maintenance test flights
- Model aircraft operations
- Model rocketry
- Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
- Utility and pipeline survey operations
Be safe…
