The no-fly zone

Posted at 2:09 PM on August 30, 2008 by Bob Collins (6 Comments)

The skies are about to get as quiet as they've been since the Northwest pilots went on strike.

Starting Monday, the Feds are putting up the "no fly" zone around the Twin Cities. Even Osceola, Wisconsin is under the no-fly zone. This chart is what the FAA distributes to show pilots where they can't fly. For the most part, they can't fly anywhere except under certain conditions.

The zone is 30 miles in all directions from the Xcel Center and extend up to 18,000 feet (everyone above 18,000 feet is on instrument flight rules and under the direction of an air traffic controller anyway)

The no-fly is active:

Noon until 11:59 p.m. local Monday, September 1
4 p.m. until 11:59 p.m. local Tuesday, September 2
4 p.m. until 11:59 p.m. local Wednesday, September 3
4 p.m. until 11:59 p.m. local Thursday, September 4

The airports affected are:

St. Paul Downtown Holman Field (STP),
South St. Paul Municipal-Richard E Fleming Field (SGS),
Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain (MSP),
Wipline SPB (09Y), Winner's Landing SPB (0MN0), Lake Elmo (21D),
Benson (6MN9), Surfside SPB (8Y4), Crystal (MIC),
Anoka County-Blaine Arpt(Janes Field) (ANE), Peterson SPB (31MN),
Flying Cloud (FCM), Forest Lake (25D), Airlake (LVN),
Fudpucker International SPB (MY36), Nielsen's (MY97),
Marty's Tranquility Base SPB (45D), Lake Minnewashta SPB (MN02),
Amundson SPB (21MN), Maple (MN69), Ingleside (MN66), The Pass SPB (MN80),
New Richmond Regional (RNH), Stocker Pvt (MN63), Molnau Airpark (1MN5)
Ceder Lake SPB (WI35), Stanton Airfield (SYN),
L O Simenstad Municipal(OEO)

If you're interested in such things, find the FAA order here.

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Comments (6)

I'm actually surprised the TFR allows flight in the early morning hours. Either way, with the requirement of a VFR flight plan, the added security, and squawking a "discrete code," there's little interest in general aviation this week.

Advantage: There won't be any banner towing or blimps loitering during the RNC.

Posted by Aaron | August 30, 2008 2:33 PM

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What does this mean for routine flights in and out of MSP?

Posted by Sarah | August 30, 2008 3:03 PM

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Sarah: It shouldn't affect commercial air travel at all. They're already on flight plans and flying under instrument flight rules.

Posted by Bob Collins | August 30, 2008 3:33 PM

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I know this sounds like a silly question but does the "no-fly" zone apply to radio controlled airplane/helicopter models as well?

Posted by Ellie | September 2, 2008 10:39 AM

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No.

but that doesn't mean you wouldn't get a visit.

Posted by Bob Collins | September 2, 2008 10:50 AM

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No model flying is allowed during the TFR.

/Adam

Collins: Yep, you're right. My error. Thanks, Adam. Here's the TFR.

Posted by Adam | September 3, 2008 8:39 PM

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