Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) exist for a reason. Being temporary, their impact is mostly minimal — time wise —but painful all the same.
But what happens when a specific TFR become repetitive? Like when a sitting president visits a particular destination repeatedly?
Steven Parker, CEO of Somerset Air Service and owner/operator of Somerset Airport (KSMQ), sent me a letter that offers a glimpse at his pain, as well as a level-headed solution to the problem.
KSMQ is a 3.5 mile walk from Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. So when the President is in town, operations at KSMQ are impacted mightily.
“As we in central New Jersey endure a fourth year of summer TFRs covering this area surrounding the Trump Bedminster Golf Course, I have to reflect on the fight those of us in General Aviation have waged to bring a sensible solution to a situation that has damaged the aviation community in our area,” writes Parker in his letter.
That solution? The Maryland Three (MD-3) Program.
“The FAA provided a program to screen pilots who wish to fly to/from these airports — College Park Airport (CGS), Potomac Airfield (VKX) and Washington Executive Hyde Field (W32) — and provide them a code to allow regular entry. This program has been successful for nearly 20 years and the background check process has promoted aviation and ensured security around our nation’s capital.”
Parker told me he completed the required steps (including a background check) to gain access to the Maryland Three.
“I recently took a flight to the area and it was easy to get in and out using that program,” he reported.
The 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act required the FAA to publish a study to see if the rules governing the MD-3 airports “could be applied towards airports under recurring Presidential TFRs,” he continues.
That study was due Oct. 1, 2019.
“As of August 2020, no study has come from the FAA,” Parker said.
Parker’s letter does acknowledge that Congress did budget money to “compensate airports for their lost revenue,” but as you might imagine, it isn’t enough.
“A better plan is to allow safe operations rather than a bailout from the taxpayers.”
I agree.
“Should President Trump lose in November, this will not alleviate the problem,” Parker’s letter continues. “It will just put it on another group of pilots. Vice President Biden has a home in Wilmington, Delaware, which he is famous for spending a great deal of time at during his time in Washington. A TFR around this residence puts three more airports in jeopardy (Spitfire in New Jersey, New Garden in Pennsylvania, and the New Case County Airport in Delaware). These airports are home to more than 350 aircraft and many more pilots and businesses that rely upon these airports.”
Parker isn’t demanding no TFRs and he doesn’t want the President to stay in Washington D.C. He’s simply asking for a batch of rules that have existed for nearly 20 years to be copied for all future presidents.
Is that too much to ask?
My Senators and Representative will be hearing from me. Hopefully yours will be hearing from you.
The need for, and effectiveness of the TFR is debatable at best. It’s economic impact yo General Aviation isn’t. Short of AOPA and a very large contingent of other folks pushing hard, nothings going to change. The FAA does not have GAs best interests at heart, the folks with real money, airlines, and the NBAA carry weight. The small time FBO or flight school is just a bug on the windshield of “progress”.
I fully concur. These TFRs should not shutdown an airport for days at a time and wreck other people’s schedules because some VIP suddenly decides to go to their “home” location — even if it is only for 4 hours.
And since no aircraft under 12,500#s could do serious damage to a building, why is it all of GA is smeared with a broad brush?
Bush still has his private little “temporary” TFR in Dallas.
Contrary to the original purpose, TFR’s are apparently a thing of right and privilege too.
We certainly don’t want TFR’s in Delaware. Vote for the incumbent and keep aviation alive and growing.
We don’t want or need TFR’s anywhere. They are a useless, knee jerk overreaction and a hangover from 9/11. They are what happens when security bureaucrats get some power – a mess for everyone. After so many years of this nonsense, how will we ever undo this mistake?
Odd how no one complained when Obama sucked the air out of the places he liked to play golf. Like Las Vegas.
What’s even odder is why anyone would bring up “Obama”. TFR’s have nothing to do with him, or any other individual. I guess some folks have a juvenile, simple-minded fixation on that kind of thing.
The comment was called for. The author of this article made it clear to those with above average IQ what side he was hoping for. Obama tore up Chicago with his un-needed appearances. He isn’t from there. Yet they sure love saying he was….I had to skirt a TFR in Chicago yesterday for a baseball game. Where was the outrage over that? We only have Trump outrage. I’ll be outraged if he loses.
Trump visits to golf clubs in four years: 303.
Obama visits to golf clubs in EIGHT years: 306.
Trump plays for free at his own golf club. And travels to Fla 993 miles. One way.
Obama played on the taxpayer’s dime. And traveled to Hawaii 4772 miles. One way.
Guess which cost the taxpayers more money? Obama took all his salary. Trump works for free.
Obama destroyed our Country. Trump has resurrected it.
Nice try….
As of May of 2019, according to Newsweek, Trump’s golf trips had already cost the taxpayers $102 million. In his entire eight-year presidency all of Obama’s travel trips cost the taxpayers a total of $114 million. Your opinions are simply not supported by the facts.
Anyone that believes ANYTHING said by NewsWeak deserves their dunce cap. Nuff said.
Wake up Phil.
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/newsweek/
Newsweek got their data from Judicial Watch. That’s a conservative organization. I’m awake, basing my opinions on the facts in the real world. And I notice you didn’t contradict any of the facts I presented.
LOL!!! The left has a funny way of ignoring reality. I don’t really care if our President (either of them) played golf. They are entitled to relax and take their minds off business. 3.5 to 4 hours for a round of golf isn’t going to collapse our country. But no one can deny that financially our country is in way better shape from the last 4 years than the previous 8. And we didn’t blame Obama for SARS. Yet they want to blame Trump for Covid-19. The left is in for a big and painful realization come Nov. Lying, stealing, conniving, stalling, blocking, impeaching, and being just plain despicable is going to lose them the House, The Senate, and the White House simultaneously. I’d bet my inflated Stock portfolio, my IRA’s, and my 401K on it. And then I hope the indictments that should have started right after 2016, happen right after the next election. This insanity has to stop.
Skeptical about those numbers. The Bama played golf when Rome was burning….non-stop. When he wasn’t in the WH he was on the golf course. Yes…on our dime!
Agreed Cathy. Everything out of that man’s mouth was a lie. And everything painting him as some great man is a lie. Durham may be implicating him in crimes 1000 times worse than Nixon pretty soon. Justice may be coming soon. The conspiracies concocted by the left are beyond criminal. Every citizen should be demanding the truth behind all this nonsense. And people talk about corruption in Mexico……Make our country safe and legitimate again and we can kiss these TFR’s goodbye.
I’m in the process of writing all of my elected reps about this problem and solution which already exists and can easily be expanded securely to any group of airports affected by recurring VIP TFRs.
Love to see your plan Greg. I can’t fly today because of the Kenosha TFR. 4 separate zones stretching from N of Milwaukee all the way down south of O’Hare in Chicago. It’s craziness. If it’s a good plan get it on change.org and start collecting signatures. Strength in numbers!