Buried down deep in the dense recesses of the FAA’s FDC Notams is one mandating that “aviators shall review” the FAA’s Aeronautical Information Manual and the interception procedures found in Paragraph 5-6-2. The Notam, FDC 4/4386, dated May 19, 2004, goes on to state, “all aircraft operating in United States national airspace, if capable, shall maintain a listening watch on VHF Guard 121.5 or UHF 243.0.” The Notam’s text adds that noncompliance with an interception “may result in the use of force.”
The Notam is a relic of the time following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and came about, at least in part, thanks to the institutionalization of aviation security measures put into place at various locations around the U.S. The powers that be got tired and frustrated at having to launch intercept every nummie who flew into a security-related temporary flight restriction.
