A presidential TFR surrounding Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, would create a no-fly zone within a 10-nm radius, effectively shutting down all GA traffic in the immediate area.[Credit: FAA/ file photo]
Key Takeaways:
Presidential Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) establish a moving, protective airspace bubble (typically 30nm outer, 10nm inner) around the President or VIPs for security, governed by FAR 91.141.
These TFRs significantly impact general aviation, often closing airports within the restricted area, and pilots are required to check NOTAMs as they are subject to changes and are announced only a day or two in advance.
Specific regions like Palm Beach anticipate increased Presidential TFRs and may implement local request processes or "gateway" airport exceptions for approved GA flights, often requiring advance forms and specific transponder codes.
“When the president comes to town, we stay on the ground.”
This witticism is often written on the whiteboard in the lobby of FBOs whenever the president of the United States or another VIP comes to town, because the president and VIPs travel in a moving bubble of protective airspace commonly known as a temporary flight restriction (TFR).
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
