General aviation pilots flying to or from St. Paul Downtown Airport and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport will face temporary flight restrictions during the Republican National Convention September 1 - 4, 2008. The planned temporary restrictions do not impact regularly scheduled commercial passenger and all-cargo carriers operating under approved security programs specified by the Transportation Security Administration.
Restrictions are in place within a 30 nautical mile radius of the convention site, with the strictest rules applying within 10 nautical miles. Flight restrictions are designed to provide a secure environment for the RNC while allowing commercial flight operations to continue and minimizing impacts on private pilots.
Restrictions are outlined in a July 2 advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA will issue Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) with specific details.
Key elements of the restrictions on general aviation within a 10 mile radius of the convention include:
1. Pilots must fly on an active flight plan, and their aircraft must emit a discrete transponder code assigned by air traffic control prior to departure and throughout the flight
2. Pilots must maintain two-way communication with Air Traffic Control throughout the flight
3. Law enforcement, military and emergency/life-saving flight operations must maintain direct contact with Air Traffic Control and emit an assigned beacon code. Emergency aircraft flights must coordinate in advance with the U.S. Secret Service to avoid delays
4. General aviation aircraft flying into St. Paul Downtown or Minneapolis-St. Paul International airports must first stop at a Gateway Airport for aircraft and passenger screening. Gateway Airports include Rochester International, Chippewa Valley Regional (near Eau Claire, WI), and St. Cloud Regional airports. Aircraft must register for gateway access at least 72 hours prior to the planned flight. Upon departure from gateway airports, aircraft must maintain radio contact with air traffic control and continuously emit the assigned transponder code. The temporary restrictions prohibit non-emergency intermediate stops between the gateway airport and Minneapolis-St. Paul International or St. Paul Downtown Airports
5. A variety of flight activities, including flight training and practice instrument approaches, are prohibited when the temporary flight restrictions are in place
Outside the 10-mile radius but within 30 nautical miles of the convention site:
1. Aircraft must maintain radio communication with Air Traffic Control, follow an active flight plan and continuously emit an assigned beacon code
2. Operations are limited to aircraft arriving or departing local airports, and aircraft loitering is prohibited
3. Over flights by general aviation operating under visual flight rules is prohibited
Pilots should check NOTAMs frequently throughout the convention for possible changes. More details on flight restrictions are available from the Federal Aviation Administration.