Airspace designations, along with what is and isnt permissible inside specific areas, are perennial sources of frustration and confusion among pilots of even considerable experience. Once ones understanding develops beyond the different classes and past special use airspace, theres always the issue of how to deal with airspace in which more and different rules or procedures apply. In recent years, special flight rules areas, SFRAs, have been created to ease the flow of traffic and prevent unsafe 288
The New SFRAs
Airspace designations, along with what is and isnt permissible inside specific areas, are perennial sources of frustration and confusion among pilots of even considerable experience. Once ones understanding develops beyond the different classes and past special use airspace, theres always the issue of how to deal with airspace in which more and different rules or procedures apply. In recent years, special flight rules areas, SFRAs, have been created to ease the flow of traffic and prevent unsafe conditions at the Grand Canyon and at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The dimensions, rules and procedures for these areas are clearly documented in various places, including FAR Part 93, the FAAs Airport/Facility Directory and the respective visual charts. (Its always helpful, of course, to ask local pilots about any tricks they may know or additional information necessary to safely operate in these and similar areas.) Meanwhile, two additional SFRAs were created recently-one over Washington, D.C., and the other at New York, N.Y. Both were created in the aftermath of significant events and demand pilots planning to operate in or near them become familiar with their requirements.
Key Takeaways:
- Special Flight Rules Areas (SFRAs) like those in New York and Washington, D.C., implement unique, mandatory rules to address specific challenges such as traffic separation for safety or enhanced security.
- The New York SFRA segregates transient and local traffic by altitude and requires specific operational procedures, including speed limits, lighting, self-announcing radio calls, and having current charts aboard.
- The Washington, D.C. SFRA is a complex security zone that generally mandates a D.C. SFRA flight plan, requires pilots to obtain a discrete transponder code (never squawk 1200), and involves strict ATC coordination for entry and exit.
- Pilots must be thoroughly familiar with the requirements for operating in or near these SFRAs, and FAA-developed training is available, with the D.C. SFRA course being mandatory for VFR flights within 60 nm of the DCA VOR/DME.
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