FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
FLIGHT ADVISORY
At the request of the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration will establish airspace restrictions over the Democratic National Convention, hosted in Chicago, IL, from August 19-22, 2024. NOTAMs will be issued depicting a 14 CFR 91.141 “VIP” Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) to be implemented as follows:
Under the authority granted by 49 U.S.C., the FAA may apply restrictions within airspace under its jurisdiction. Any person who knowingly and willingly violates these restrictions may be subject to certain criminal and/or civil penalties. Pilots who violate security TFRs or procedures may be intercepted, detained and interviewed by Law Enforcement/Security Personnel. They may also be subject to the following actions:
1. The FAA may take administrative action, including imposing civil penalties and the suspension or revocation of airmen certificates;
2. The United States Government may pursue criminal charges, including charges under Title 49 of the United States Code, Section 46307;
3. The United States Government may use deadly force against the airborne aircraft, if it is determined that the aircraft poses an imminent security threat.
EXPECTED TFR FOR UAS ACTIVITY IN THE VICINITY OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO:
Check NOTAMs for exact dates and times. Pursuant to Title 14, Section 91.141 of the Code of Federal Regulations, all UAS operations are prohibited within a 3 Nautical Mile Radius (NMR) of 415200N/0873841W or the CGT/VORTAC 349 degree radial 22NM from the surface to 3,000ft AGL, unless otherwise authorized.
EXPECTED TFR FOR UAS AND CREWED AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY IN THE VICINITY OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO:
Check NOTAMs for exact dates and times. Pursuant to Title 14, Section 91.141 of the Code of Federal Regulations, all flight operations are prohibited within a 3 Nautical Mile Radius (NMR) of 415200N/0873841W or the CGT/VORTAC 349 degree radial 22NM from the surface to 3,000ft AGL, unless otherwise authorized.
EXPECTED TFR FOR UAS AND CREWED AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY IN THE VICINITY OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO:
Check NOTAMs for exact dates and times. Pursuant to Title 14, Section 91.141 of the Code of Federal Regulations, all flight operations are prohibited:
Within a 10 NMR (Inner Core) of 415254N/0874027W or the CGT/VORTAC 346 degree radial 23NM from the surface up to, but not including FL180 except as follows:
1. Approved Law Enforcement, approved Military aircraft directly supporting the United States Secret Service and approved Air Ambulance flights, squawking an assign discrete beacon code, are permitted within the Inner Core as coordinated.
2. Regularly scheduled commercial passenger and all-cargo carriers operating under one of the following TSA-approved Standard Security Programs/Procedures: Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program (AOSSP), Full-All Cargo Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program (FACAOSSP), Model Security Program (MSP), Twelve Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) All Cargo, or All-Cargo International Security Procedure (ACISP).
3. All other United States Government operations and United States Elected Officials must apply for a Special Events Waiver no later than 24 hours prior to their scheduled flight time at https://waivers.faa.gov.
4. All aircraft shall squawk the ATC assigned discrete beacon code continuously while operating within the TFR. In the event of a transponder failure, the pilot shall advise ATC and ATC will provide the most direct course to exit the lateral confines of the TFR.
5. All aircraft must remain in two-way radio communications with ATC at all times.
Within a 30 NMR (Outer Ring) of 415254N/0874027W or the CGT/VORTAC 346 degree radial 23NM from the surface up to, but not including FL180 except as follows:
1. All aircraft arriving or departing local airfields, and workload permitting, ATC may authorize transit operations. Aircraft may not loiter. All aircraft entering and exiting the TFR must be on an active IFR or VFR flight plan and must be assigned a discrete beacon code by an Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility. Aircraft must squawk the assigned code before departing into, while within, and before entering the TFR.
2. All aircraft entering or exiting the TFR must remain in two-way radio communication with ATC.
Gateway airports have been established to provide security screening services by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and FAA. Aircraft seeking to land at Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) during the effective times of the TFR must first complete TSA screening at either Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) or South Bend International Airport (SBN). Aircraft seeking to depart the Inner Core during the effective times of the TFR must complete TSA screening at MDW. TSA screening will be available during the TFRs and exact times will be published in the NOTAM. Intermediate stops are not authorized unless an emergency exists. Times and locations are subject to change. Check NOTAMs for TSA screening reservation information.
IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE TFR:
For operations within this TFR, all emergency/life-saving flights (medical/law enforcement/firefighting) must coordinate with the FAA at the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) prior to their departure at (847) 608-5911 to avoid potential intercept or delays.
The following operations are not authorized within this TFR: flight training, practice instrument approaches, aerobatic flight, glider operations, parachute operations, ultralight, hang gliding, balloon operations, agriculture/crop dusting, animal population control flight operations, banner towing operations, sightseeing operations, maintenance test flights, model aircraft operations, model rocketry, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and utility and pipeline survey operations.
UAS AND CREWED AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY IN THE VICINITY OF CHICAGO O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:
Check NOTAMs for exact dates and times. Pursuant to Title 14, Section 91.141 of the Code of Federal Regulations, aircraft flight operations are prohibited:
Within a 10 NMR (Inner Core) of 415916N/0875417W or the OBK/VORTAC 173 degree radial 14NM from the surface up to, but not including FL180 except as follows:
1. Approved Law Enforcement, approved Military aircraft directly supporting the United States Secret Service and approved Air Ambulance flights, squawking an assigned discrete beacon code, are permitted within the inner ring as coordinated.
2. Regularly scheduled commercial passenger and all-cargo carriers operating under one of the following TSA-approved Standard Security Programs/Procedures: Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program (AOSSP), Full-All Cargo Aircraft Operator Standard Security Program (FACAOSSP), Model Security Program (MSP), Twelve Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) All Cargo, or All-Cargo International Security Procedure (ACISP).
3. All aircraft shall squawk the ATC assigned discrete beacon code continuously while operating within the TFR. In the event of a transponder failure, the pilot shall advise ATC and ATC will provide the most direct course to exit the lateral confines of the TFR.
4. All aircraft must remain in two-way radio communications with ATC at all times.
Within a 30 NMR (Outer Ring) of 415916'N/0875417W or the OBK/VORTAC 173 degree radial 14NM from the surface up to, but not including FL180 except as follows:
1. All aircraft arriving or departing local airfields, and workload permitting, ATC may authorize transit operations. Aircraft may not loiter. All aircraft entering and exiting the TFR must be on an active IFR or VFR flight plan and must be assigned a discrete beacon code by an Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility. Aircraft must squawk the assigned code before departing into, while within, and before entering the TFR.
2. All aircraft entering or exiting the TFR must remain in two-way radio communication with ATC.
IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE TFR:
For operations within this TFR, all emergency/life-saving flights (medical/law enforcement/firefighting) must coordinate with the FAA at the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) prior to their departure at (847) 608-5911 to avoid potential intercept or delays.
The following operations are not authorized within this TFR: flight training, practice instrument approaches, aerobatic flight, glider operations, parachute operations, ultralight, hang gliding, balloon operations, agriculture/crop dusting, animal population control flight operations, banner towing operations, sightseeing operations, maintenance test flights, model aircraft operations, model rocketry, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and utility and pipeline survey operations.
The FAA point of contact for the Democratic National Convention is the System Operations Support Center, available 0700-2300 Eastern at (202) 267-8276.
UAS ACTIVITY:
UAS operators who do not comply with applicable airspace restrictions are warned that pursuant to 10 U.S.C. section 130(i), and 6 U.S.C. section 124(n), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Defense (DOD) may take security action that results in the interference, disruption, seizure, damaging, or destruction of unmanned aircraft deemed to pose a credible safety or security threat to protected personnel, facilities, or assets.
UAS operations are authorized within the defined SSI airspace if in compliance with the requirements listed below:
1) Prior to TFR activation, the UAS flight operation has been pre-approved by the FAA System Operations Support Center (SOSC) at 202-267-8276 based on criteria established by the sponsoring federal agency in coordination with the FAA;
2) Requests for pre-approved UAS flight operations can expect disposition of their request in a minimum of 48 hours.
3) If the pre-approved UAS flight operation is conducted in direct support of an active national defense, homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue, or disaster response mission, and prior notification has been provided to the designated facility contact; or
4) If the pre-approved UAS flight operation is conducted in direct support of a significant and urgent governmental interest and is approved by the FAA SOSC in advance of entering the defined SSI airspace; and
5) The pre-approved UAS flight operation complies with all other applicable federal aviation regulations.
WARNING
The FAA recommends that all aircraft operators check NOTAMs OFTEN for mandatory airspace restrictions prior to operations within this region. Specific instructions and restrictions are available at http://tfr.faa.gov once the NOTAM has been issued.