no cost is too large when it comes to protecting the emporer and our royal congressmen. f*ck the small plane owners. (well at least thats how the secrect service and federal buerocats feel) Original Article Curbs on small aircraft frustrating some pilots Bob Golfen and Thomas Ropp The Arizona Republic May. 15, 2005 12:00 AM The image of confused small-aircraft pilots flying into restricted airspace was brought sharply into focus last week when two fliers accidentally wandered too close to the White House, prompting an Air Force scramble and widespread evacuation. In Arizona, restricted airspace rules may not be quite as stark as those governing Washington, D.C. aircraft, where post-Sept. 11 fears have broadened the restrictions and heightened enforcement. Some pilots complain that the Temporary Flight Restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration since then are too stringent and have gone on for too long. Arv Schultz, president of the Arizona Pilots Association, believes Sept. 11 jitters have spilled over into paranoia. He points to an incident in Chandler in July 2002, when a student pilot on his first solo flight inadvertently had his transponder that allows radar tracking set to a frequency that indicates a hijacking. Rather than contact the student pilot on his radio, two F-16 jet fighters were sent to intercept him. "It's crazy," Schultz said of the current restrictions. "Even a small plane loaded with explosives wouldn't make a dent in a nuclear power plant. You're looking at a vehicle lighter than a compact car." The state does have permanent restricted flight areas mainly related to Air Force training. A pilot who gets lost and flies into those areas could be making a deadly error. At Luke Air Force Base in the West Valley, there were 18 midair near-misses during 2004 caused mainly when private pilots in small aircraft flew into areas where high-performance F-16 jet fighters are taking off, landing or on training missions. "We can fly much faster than a civilian aircraft can fly, that's for sure," said Maj. John Paradis, a Luke spokesman. "These things happen very quickly." Top officials at Luke, including the wing commander, Col. Robin Rand, have been meeting recently with local governments and aircraft groups to impress upon them the need to beware of flying into military airspace, which include the training bases and ranges in southern Arizona. Most air restrictions imposed by the FAA are temporary rules that reflect the heightened security issues since Sept. 11, although the major restriction is in the form of an advisory rather than a prohibition. "Pilots are strongly advised to avoid the airspace above or in proximity to such sites as power plants (nuclear, hydroelectric or coal), dams, refineries, industrial complexes, military facilities and other similar facilities," the FAA warns in a recent Temporary Flight Restriction advisory. "Pilots should not circle as to loiter in the vicinity over these types of facilities." The only real FAA prohibition is to ban aircraft from flying within 3 nautical miles of sporting events, such as professional football games or auto races, where more than 30,000 people may be present. Temporary Flight Restrictions, or TFRs as they are known among pilots, also can be applied to specific events, such the visit to the Valley of the president or other government official. "That's Secret Service policy to restrict air space during his (the president's) arrival and departure," said Lexi Van Haren, a spokeswoman for Sky Harbor International Airport. Transportation Security Administration spokesman Nico Melendez said the Homeland Security agency does not specifically order airspace restrictions but advises the FAA about security issues. Flying small aircraft is a way of life for many people in Arizona, where Deer Valley Airport is the second-busiest general-aviation facility in the country and Scottsdale Municipal Airport has a lengthy waiting list for space. Temporary Flight Restrictions have been cause for concern among aircraft operators, who fear further encroachment on their flying freedom. Jeff Myers, spokesman for the Maryland-based Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, said Wednesday's incident at the White House could "very possibly" have a negative impact on general aviation throughout the country, including Arizona. AOPA is the largest and most influential aviation association in the world with a membership that includes two-thirds of all pilots in the United States. AOPA has been particularly active in fighting a trend since Sept. 11 of increased restrictions on where general aviation pilots can fly. Myers said the 15-mile radius no-flight zone around the White House was supposed to be a Temporary Flight Restriction but has been in effect for more than three years. The National Business Aviation Association has also been critical of the TFRs, citing more than 3,000 a year that have been in effect since Sept. 11, costing more than $1 billion in lost jobs, productivity and economic activity. Much of this lost revenue is from the continued closure of Washington's Reagan National Airport to general aviation after Sept. 11. Cave Creek pilot George Ross also believes the Washington incident is bad news for Arizona pilots. Ross, who flies out of Deer Valley Airport, has been flying since 1957. "It affects us tremendously," Ross said. "Several times we couldn't take off out of Deer Valley during the presidential campaign."