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This weekend, I have been doing a fair amount of flying. I have noticed that the briefer here at Bridgeport recited some refresher info on interception procedures.

Now I don't plan on being intercepted, but it still is interesting to know.

He also went on about parachute jumpers and laser light activity.

Has anyone else noticed an increase in "National Security" safety awareness this holiday weekend?

What does the military do with these lasers anyways, and why do they fire them into our eyes?

It has been a fun weekend of flying!

CJ

I received the jumpers caution in a briefing yesterday. I would say that the "awareness" is much higher this weekend. Maybe even a bit stressful.  I know you have stuff up there in your neck of the woods with bases and such, but you should come down and fly in this neck of the woods.
 
I am surprised that you received a laser mention. They use them out here for the ADIZ. They have a laser that they shoot at aircraft that have either penetrated the ADIZ without permission or look like they are going to. Its non damaging and alternates green and red (I believe 2 green, 1 red, repeat). Its like a last chance warning to turn around.
 
And since you mentioned it, as much as I am sick of TFR's, the ADIZ, P40, and as much as I think its not worth a pooh as far as "national security", I am equally sick and tired of the putzes that keep blatantly busting the ADIZ and such. The damn thing has bee non the charts for over a year. Sure people cut it close when skirting these airspace restrictions, but the people that blatantly fly straight through them should lose their ticket, permanently! Its making it a real headache for those of us who actually try to fly responsibly.
 
-- John
 
 

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I know it, you live in the hotbed for TFR's and complex airspace environments!

We have an occasional pop up TFR in Kennebushport, Maine.

When the RV is done, and I fly to Florida... I am going to fly HIGH & FAST over the D.C. area!

I read that article in AOPA Pilot about the pilot warning lasers. I think it is a pretty good idea!

Anyone else get some strange or unusual briefings?

CJ

Hi, CJ... you're probably talking kidding about traversing the DC area "high and fast", but for those that are not so well informed as you... the ADIZ around DC goes up to 18K ft, so going over it obviously requires plane/pilot capabilities that can deal with the flight levels. And it's a little over 60 miles in diameter and shaped something like a Norelco triple head electric razor. My advice is to give it a wide berth unless you really understand what the NOTAM says and how to file the required flight plans and deal with ATC. Once you understand, it's not too bad, but there aren't that many visual ground references and it's easy to end up somewhere you shouldn't be. Spike is right, it sure has taken a lot of the fun out of flying in this area. I used to take passengers up on a "Beltway" tour, playing traffic reporter at 1400' underneath the class B shelf. You could get to within a few miles of downtown DC and easily see the monuments, capitol, etc. Unfortunately, those days are gone. So give the place a wide berth - don't want to read about anyone else getting intercepted. They're already talking about extending the ADIZ to as far as 60 miles out in each direction. GRRRR.

Also if flying N-S on the east side - watch out for a big chunk of restricted airspace that belongs to the Patuxent River ("Pax River" Naval Air Station.

Just looking out for my RivetBanger buds,
-PoeBoy

Listen to PoeBoy, he is a whiz at "dead reckoning" and flying "IFR". If you are not experienced with picking out ground markers, etc, then you have to be very comfy with VOR tracking to stay out of trouble around here. Of course a moving map really helps out too. Be careful guys!!
 
 

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Sonoffa...

FL 18!?!

Well, it would seem that the day is lost unless one learns something every day!

I had no idea it was up to 18,000' there!



Looks like I should study up on the mid Atlantic routes for when the time comes!

Hey, you guys coming to my cookout in 2 weeks here in PYM?!?

All are invited, you know!

CJ

Actually CJ, there really is no reason for you to have to worry about the ADIZ, P40, etc. Just go straight west and skirt the lakes. I don't see a reason for you to come this far south.

-- John

In my case, when Spike sez "IFR" he means "I follow roads". Don't want to give any false impressions! I learned to fly pre-GPS and my flight instructor was really adamant about pilotage and navigation. Even so, sure is nice to look at that panel/handheld for confirmation about where you think you are.

Yeah, CJ, they're pretty serious about the ADIZ boundaries. It's interesting, I worked on a project at the Pax River airbase recently and had a piece of equipment that was test flown aboard an F18. Our pilots would leave Pax River and head up to a target range at Aberdeen, MD., about 70 miles north up the Chesapeake Bay. THEY had to deal with the ADIZ, flight plans, and ATC just like us Cessna spam canners. I thought they might get special handling, but they had to go through the same drills as the rest of us. It was interesting to watch and listen to the cockpit video as part of the flight debrief and hear them dealing with Pax Approach, Potomac (then Baltimore) Approach, Aberdeen Tower, Washington Center, and NY Center all within a 15 minute span. All that plus trying to fly an exact flight path (and I mean exact: +/- 100 meters) at 400+ knots in a crazy restricted airspace. I was mightily impressed.

-PoeBoy

WOW! That IS a busy environment!

Wicked Stick and I took the Citabria under Boston's Class Bravo through Norwood, Bedford and into Lawrence's Class Deltas. It was my route of choice. I contacted each tower along the way and flipped all the switches, moved all the wheels and rang all the bells.

It was busy, but not a problem at a modest 100 or so knots.

Two weeks later I did the same route (except the destination was Laconia, NH) in the Six and things were appreciably ramped up!

I can only imagine doing the whole drill at 400 knots!

Maybe when the RV 22 comes out!?!

CJ