Five Little Words...

[n4gix]

...That Will Ruin Your Day.

"You have busted a TFR...."

About an hour ago, a helicopter which had departed Lansing, Michigan was passing through the Chicago airspace while enroute to (somewhere in) California. Presumably this was a ferry flight...

In any case, suddenly the controller at Gary (KGYY) called out "aircraft to the west of Gary at about thirty-five hundred feet squawking four-two-three-five, identify yourself."

After a brief delay, a pilot responded "Helicopter three-five-nine-foxtrot-juliet*."

"Helicopter 359FJ, you have busted a TFR, hover in position and await further instructions..."

TSA had the controller instruct the pilot to land at KGYY, shut down, and remain in the cockpit until further notice... Oops! :faint:

I suspect he won't be the only one to run afoul of having the sitting President make Chicago his getaway retreat over the next few years...

Here is a link to a portion of sectional showing the TFR boundaries. Note that this pilot was in the "outer zone," otherwise he'd have been in serious trouble... http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/sect_print_9_5909.html

*Note: ficticious reg to preserve the real pilot's identity, not to mention his dignity

[BOOM]

Wow! interesting,were you listening to your scanner?if so,Can you pick up any Military escort for Obama?
Thanks
/Patrick/

[Lionheart]

Thats crazy...

They must have been running one of the presidential Helo's to LA?

I had seen the documentary on AirForce One and how they have all those Helo's as well that follow along on trips. They will dispatch the Sikorski's ahead of the 747 to meet up with the Presidential group.



Bill

[n4gix]

Wow! interesting,were you listening to your scanner?if so,Can you pick up any Military escort for Obama?
Thanks
/Patrick/

Nope. I monitor KGYY exclusively because it's my home airport and I know all the controllers... ;)

[n4gix]

Thats crazy...

They must have been running one of the presidential Helo's to LA?

No, it was a private helo, just passing through on their way west. As of right now, it and the two pilots are still being held on the ramp pending a through interview by the SS and TSA agents who were dispatched in their own helo to KGYY.

Pres. Obama and his family arrived on Friday evening to spend the weekend at their home in Chicago. Hence the 30 mile TFR... There's an additional TFR in effect today, since the President and family are scheduled to depart this afternoon for their return to the White House.

Apparently Pres. Obama will be using his home here in Chicago instead of Camp David for his weekend getaways... :whistle:

[BOOM]

Yeah,I'm in Chicago and was listening to KORD via LiveATC.com when the Pres was in the airspace scheduled to land,The controller told aircraft that were lined up waiting to takeoff to shutdown their engines for about 20min.One pilot asked if it was because of weather?The controller said "I'm not at liberty to say but it's not weather related" about 15min after he landed Marine 1 flew over my house @low altitude.....pretty cool!!!!
/Patrick/

[jmig]

This was arrogant and unnecessary when Pres. Bush did it and it still arrogant and unnecessary.

[BOOM]

????

[Lionheart]

Ahhh..

Very cool. I didnt know he was in town. Also pretty cool that he's sticking with Chicago as his vacation point. Says alot for him. Stands with his home town.

If the guys flying the helo are innocent, I hope they are at least treated with respect and allowed to carry on. Anyone can make a mistake. But if his flightplan was altered, then it could be a little 'shady'.

Those 'Marine 1' helos are beautiful. Not a spec of dust on them. I think the US has 5 of them total.


Bill

[mike_cyul]

Stood on the ramp at Rockliffe in Ottawa once, chatting with Sergei Sikorsky (son of Igor) as then President Clinton climbed into his Sikorsky helicopter - thought that was kind of an interesting moment: watching a Sikorsky while chatting with a Sikorsky. More than helos in the air that day - there was a Cessna Caravan circling above, too. Would love to know what else there was up there, out of sight and sound.

Mike

[GT182]

Bill, we have the same TFR deal here in New Castle County Delaware for VP Biden. His home is not more than 3 miles off of Runway 01. Lottsa fun. :costumes:

[n4gix]

Bill, we have the same TFR deal here in New Castle County Delaware for VP Biden. His home is not more than 3 miles off of Runway 01. Lottsa fun. :costumes:

What makes it particularly burdensome is that during the TFR, all flightschools in the area affected are shut down insofar as actual flight is concerned, which of course throughly disrupts students and instructors both...

Worse though is that the main rwy at KGYY (30) is closed for takeoffs entirely...

...which makes KGYY unavailable during IFR conditions as an alternate airport for commercial a/c except during emergencies. They could land, but not take off again until the TFR expires... :faint: