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Flanked by (from left) Cadet Senior Airmen Alan Carter and Billy Mullis and (from right) Cadet Airmen Alyssa Stokes, Cadet Airman Basic Miguel Pichardo and Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Moore – the Gastonia Composite Squadron cadets from whom she received it – Jill Cagle, flight instructor at Gastonia Municipal Airport, joins Moore in holding up the FAA’s Temporary Flight Restriction notice.
Photo by Hector Pichardo
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The FAA poster.
Maj. Don Penven
Public Affairs Officer
North Carolina Wing
NORTH CAROLINA – The North Carolina Wing is assisting the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region in ensuring area pilots are aware the Federal Aviation Administration is establishing a Temporary Flight Restriction for the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Charlotte from Sept. 3-6.
"This outreach is a great way to inform the general aviation community about the FAA's upcoming temporary flight restricted area in place for the Democratic National Convention," said Maj. John May, the wing’s mission incident commander. "Civil Air Patrol is able to greatly enhance the effectiveness of the outreach program at a relatively minimal cost. With a greater awareness of the TFR, we hope to see fewer TFR violations."
Posters designed to alert pilots about the restriction are being delivered by CAP members to all public airports within a 75-mile radius of Charlotte.
"The posters are a reminder that a TFR is a ‘no-fly zone’ and when it goes into effect, there will be serious consequences for violators," May said.
About 55 North Carolina and South Carolina airports exist inside the 75-mile circle, and the North Carolina Wing is delivering the posters to each one as part of regularly scheduled training exercises.
“CAP adds tremendous credibility when we show up at an airport in a CAP uniform to deliver the posters and to explain TFR procedures to airport personnel and pilots," May said.
The deliveries began Aug 3. Among the first airports visited was Gastonia Municipal Airport near the South Carolina border, where May was greeted by a contingent of cadets on hand for orientation flights in a CAP airplane. The cadets presented the posters to airport flight instructor Jill Cagle.
“This assignment is a departure from our usual Air Force missions of searching for missing aircraft or people and our emergency response activities during natural disasters," said Col. David Crawford, North Carolina Wing commander. "The North Carolina Wing is glad to assist with this very important mission. We want to ensure all pilots in the area are aware the TFR is being established."
CAP has performed similar missions with great success in the past, which is why the U.S. Air Force requested the organization’s support in getting the word out about TFRs for both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions again this year.
