Airspace restrictions planned for Biden's inauguration

The FAA issued a flight advisory for the inauguration, detailing the restrictions that will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time on January 20.

VFR and IFR aircraft will not be able to transit the Washington, D.C., SFRA except for IFR aircraft landing at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, or Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P. Davis Field. Special procedures typically in place at Barnes Airport, Flying M Farms, Mountain Road Airport, Robinson Airport, Skyview Airport, Maples Field, and Goose Hunt Farm will be suspended during that time. Ingress and egress at Leesburg Executive Airport and traffic pattern operations at all SFRA airports will be suspended as well. The flight advisory details further restrictions to operations in the FRZ.

“Model Aircraft, Unmanned Aircraft (UAS), Aerobatic Maneuvers, Glider Operations, Parachute Operations, Ultralights, Lighter than Air/Balloon/Moored Balloon, Agricultural/Crop Dusting/Spraying, Animal Population Control, Banner Towing, Utility/Pipeline Patrols, Aircraft/Helicopters operating from a ship or private/corporate yacht, Model Rockets, or Maintenance Flights” as well as “Flight Training/Practice Approaches … including DOD, Law Enforcement and Air Ambulance” will all be prohibited in the SFRA and FRZ.

Pilots should also check notams carefully for possible pop-up temporary flight restrictions and additional changes to the SFRA or FRZ. In addition, the Transportation Security Administration is asking pilots to be alert for any suspicious or disruptive activity, and to report any such activity by calling the Transportation Security Operations Center at 877-456-8722.

Pilots who are planning to fly into the area during the inauguration can get information regarding air traffic management programs, parking, and more for Washington, D.C., area airports from the National Business Aviation Association.