AOPA warns Texas pilots of large TFR over Crawford ranch beginning Thursday

The FAA has issued notams establishing a large, 30-nm-radius temporary flight restriction (TFR) extending up to 18,000 feet over President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, beginning October 24. The TFR spans two time periods from 1830 local on October 24 to 830 local on October 26, and again from 1820 local on October 27 to 800 local on October 28.

"AOPA continues to actively oppose large flight restrictions such as this one over Crawford, but positive changes are hampered by pilots violating TFRs," said AOPA Senior Vice President of Government and Technical Affairs Andrew V. Cebula. "It's imperative that pilots avoid violating the TFR."

Earlier this month, AOPA met with the FAA, DOD, and security officials to press for smaller TFRs and better, timelier communication of restrictions to pilots. These points were also outlined in a letter to FAA Deputy Administrator Steve Brown.

The Crawford notams expand the existing P-49 prohibited area to a 10-nm radius. Between 10 and 30 nm of Crawford ranch, the notam requires that pilots must be on an active VFR or IFR flight plan with a discrete ATC-assigned transponder code and must be communicating with ATC. In addition, the only flights permitted within this area will be for the purposes of ingress and egress. Aircraft must proceed directly to and from the airports. AOPA warns pilots that this restricted airspace will be actively enforced by the military, and violators will be intercepted and forced down.

Fourteen public-use and more than 20 private airports are impacted by the Crawford TFR. The public-use airports affected include:

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