posted 02-27-2002 07:42 AM            

Feb. 26 — As AOPA reported yesterday, the FAA has issued a new notice to airmen prohibiting flight operations in the vicinity of Cape Canaveral. The new notam expands the size of the no-fly area established in a notam issued yesterday. Effective from 2148 local on Wednesday through 0954 Thursday morning, notam 2/1659 establishes a 30-nm-radius TFR "no fly" zone around the launch pad from the surface to FL180, with a less restrictive area between 30 and 40 nm. No Part 91 general aviation and no VFR operations are permitted within the 30-nm "ring," while flights in the 30-40 nm area require communications with ATC and an assigned transponder code. This restriction will impact operations at 10 public-use airports, including: New Smyrna Beach (EVB), Massey (X50), Sanford (SFB), Orlando Executive (ORL), Daytona Beach International (DAB), Merritt Island (COI), Space Coast Regional (TIX), Dunn (X21), Orlando International (MCO), and Melbourne International (MLB).

"AOPA is troubled by the magnitude of the restriction, however, the FAA has limited the effective times to minimize the impact to pilots," commented Andy Cebula, Senior Vice President of Government and Technical Affairs. Pilots are advised to contact St. Petersburg Flight Service Station prior to operating in the vicinity of this airspace.
Graphics courtesy of Jeppesen Sanderson, Inc.