Incursions a concern in New Jersey restricted areas

Fortunately, there have been no accidents caused by pilots flying through the complex of restricted areas R-5002 A through F when the 177th Fighter Wing is flying its F-16 Fighting Falcons at low altitudes and high airspeed in the airspace.

But since December 2015, there have been 11 incursions, at altitudes from 800 feet msl to 9,500 feet msl, involving a variety of unauthorized aircraft including single-engine GA airplanes and helicopters, according to incursion data provided to AOPA.

A typical event happens when a pilot enters a destination or a fix into a GPS and then flies there direct, without reviewing the airspace to be transited, said Rune Duke, AOPA director of airspace and air traffic.

“AOPA works with military units across the country on their midair collision avoidance efforts and to increase pilot awareness of special-use airspace,” he said. “We want to encourage pilots to have current charts, conduct proper flight planning, check notices to airmen via the FAA’s notam search page, request radar flight following, monitor 121.5 MHz, and check the FAA's Special-Use Airspace website for scheduled use of the restricted areas.”

The 177th Fighter Wing cautions GA pilots to “always assume that R-5002 is active with hazardous activity.” It recommends pilots review this midair collision avoidance pamphlet for detailed information about operations in the area.

The unit requests that pilots who experience an incursion file a confidential report with the Aviation Safety Reporting System to help identify and address safety-of-flight issues.

The 177th Fighter Wing also works with the FAA Safety Team, giving a military airspace orientation brief at local aviation events, and often displaying an F-16 at fly-ins.