News Archive

Katrina Joint Operations Area established over much of Gulf Coast

With the relief effort after Hurricane Katrina expanding, more temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) have been established over the Gulf Coast area to clear the airspace for aircraft flying humanitarian missions.

The Joint Task Force Katrina Airspace Control Plan has established a Katrina Joint Operations Area from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Mobile, Alabama. The control plan airspace extends from the surface to 5,000 feet agl. Pilots not involved in the relief effort are also asked to avoid flight over that airspace.

President Bush is expected to be in Mississippi and Louisiana on Tuesday. His visit likely will establish an additional large TFR limiting general aviation flight. Typically, these presidential travel-related TFRs are 60 nautical miles in diameter (30-nm radius) and contain one or more smaller general aviation no-fly zones. AOPA will post the notam on AOPA Online as soon as possible after it is issued. Graphics are also available through AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner.

Updated: October 4, 2005, 9:50 a.m. EDT