9/28/01 3:21:20 PM, ET — The FAA has just issued a new notam, consolidating and clarifying a number of previous notams governing operations in the nation’s airspace. Pilots should read the actual notam carefully, but in summary, virtually all operations are now permitted outside of enhanced Class B airspace and temporary flight restriction (TFR) areas.
The new notam also says that supervised student solo flight (in piston-powered aircraft with a gross weight of less than 6,000 pounds) is permitted in enhanced Class B airspace (except in the Boston enhanced Class B and the Washington and New York TFRs), but VFR flight by certificated pilots is still prohibited — you read that correctly. It also clarifies that a Class B clearance is not required for permitted operations in enhanced Class B airspace outside of charted Class B airspace (in other words, operations underneath the old Class B shelf).
So correct me if I’m wrong but it sounds like a student pilot can fly in Class B airspace but a VFR only private pilot cannot. Does this mean that if I get my CFI to claim he is supervising my flight I can go into the Bravo space or is it just for student pilots trying to get their private pilot ticket?
Since I am trying to complete my IFR certification, does that make me a student pilot for the purposes of this notam?
And I’m studying for a commercial ticket [or so I have decided as of two minutes ago], so maybe that will qualify to get me out of the No Fly Zone!
What’s the old chestnut about history repeating itself, first as tragedy and then as farce?
9/28/01 3:21:20 PM, ET — The FAA has just issued a new notam, consolidating and clarifying a number of previous notams governing operations in the nation’s airspace. Pilots should read the actual notam carefully, but in summary, virtually all operations are now permitted outside of enhanced Class B airspace and temporary flight restriction (TFR) areas.
The new notam also says that supervised student solo flight (in piston-powered aircraft with a gross weight of less than 6,000 pounds) is permitted in enhanced Class B airspace (except in the Boston enhanced Class B and the Washington and New York TFRs), but VFR flight by certificated pilots is still prohibited — you read that correctly. It also clarifies that a Class B clearance is not required for permitted operations in enhanced Class B airspace outside of charted Class B airspace (in other words, operations underneath the old Class B shelf).
So correct me if I’m wrong but it sounds like a student pilot can fly in Class B airspace but a VFR only private pilot cannot. Does this mean that if I get my CFI to claim he is supervising my flight I can go into the Bravo space or is it just for student pilots trying to get their private pilot ticket?
Since I am trying to complete my IFR certification, does that make me a student pilot for the purposes of this notam?
This NOTAM is just loony. Not even the FAA could have come up with such shoddy ambiguous language. I don’t know who is now drafting rules for the National Airspace, but giving them this responsibility was like giving beer and car keys to teenagers.
It’s time for some sense. If there is still evidence of a genuine security threat, the NSC (or whoever is making such decisions) should consult knowledgable people who can offer creative, effective solutions that will still allow maximum flexibility in the airspace system–FAA, AOPA, EAA, NBAA, at the very least. Such dreadful pieces of work as this NOTAM seriously undermine the credibility of the authorities. It makes me think that they are far more concerned with just giving the appearance of “being in control” when in fact there either is no evidence of further threats or THEY JUST HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO.
A CFI MUST be on board in order to fly VFR in enhanced class B.
And I’m studying for a commercial ticket [or so I have decided as of two minutes ago], so maybe that will qualify to get me out of the No Fly Zone!
What’s the old chestnut about history repeating itself, first as tragedy and then as farce?
9/28/01 3:21:20 PM, ET — The FAA has just issued a new notam, consolidating and clarifying a number of previous notams governing operations in the nation’s airspace. Pilots should read the actual notam carefully, but in summary, virtually all operations are now permitted outside of enhanced Class B airspace and temporary flight restriction (TFR) areas.
The new notam also says that supervised student solo flight (in piston-powered aircraft with a gross weight of less than 6,000 pounds) is permitted in enhanced Class B airspace (except in the Boston enhanced Class B and the Washington and New York TFRs), but VFR flight by certificated pilots is still prohibited — you read that correctly. It also clarifies that a Class B clearance is not required for permitted operations in enhanced Class B airspace outside of charted Class B airspace (in other words, operations underneath the old Class B shelf).
So correct me if I’m wrong but it sounds like a student pilot can fly in Class B airspace but a VFR only private pilot cannot. Does this mean that if I get my CFI to claim he is supervising my flight I can go into the Bravo space or is it just for student pilots trying to get their private pilot ticket?
Since I am trying to complete my IFR certification, does that make me a student pilot for the purposes of this notam?
A CFI MUST be on board in order to fly VFR in enhanced class B.
The Notam says “supervised student solo flight” is authorized in “enhanced” class Bravo. At best this is unclear. The most likely reading is that “solo” trumps “supervised.” A CFI can “supervise” a flight from the ground (signing off on the route, and so on). Hard to know how a student pilot can fly “solo” with the instructor aboard.
(Yes, yes, I know the Talmudic arguments about logging time as “PIC or Solo” even if you’re getting training. Don’t seem to apply here.)
To put it differently, what do you base your “MUST” on?
A CFI MUST be on board in order to fly VFR in enhanced class B.
The previous notam said that flight training was permitted in the Class B airspace. One presumes with a flight instructor in the right seat. Fine and dandy.
This new notam issued today seems to allow student pilots to solo in the enhanced Class B as long as they are under an instuctor’s supervision.
The logic of this ruling simply escapes me. Extremely frustrated!!!
As a new student pilot, I have a theory: the FAA must think I’m too inept to do any damage (and in my case they’re right!)
Let’s see, if I offer my “services” to the owners of aircraft stranded down at BFI (my CFI and I will fly their planes out of enhanced Class B), I’ll get enough (free) hours to be ready for my checkride and my CFI will recoup his lost earnings from the past 3 weeks… Any takers?
(Don’t flame me, I’m kidding, and I think the whole situation royally sucks)
I am under the impression the DC TFR still exists per this NOTAM.
As for this other nonesense, how is that for unenforceable! I thought the idea was to make life easier for controllers. What do they do, call every plane that shows 1200 and ask who the supervisor is?
Not sure how this helps with safety.
FREE THE 41,000
Or soon we will start abusing the regulations in just the manner describe. After all, I actually am studying for my instrument, and need to build up my x-country hours…
The Notam says “supervised student solo flight” is authorized in “enhanced” class Bravo. At best this is unclear.
The only supervised solo I did as a student pilot was the time the instructor got out of the plane and told me to do 2 stop and go landings and a full stop. I suspect the function is to permit the instructor to have the option of turning the student loose for his first solo.
The intent of the NOTAM was to allow supervised solos in the pattern. The idea being that the CFI will notice if the guy goes off to cubs in the plane and call it in.
That was the intent, which is completely logical and self-consistent (i.e. in every case the hope was to have a second set of eyes aware of the operation of the plane).
However, like the rest of you, I think the implementation is ridiculous. As soon as they got rid of the discrete beacon code requirements inside enhanced class B, all the safety checks were off. There is no way to tell that I am a CFI, if I have a legitimate student on board, or if I am a solo pilot.
The regs, as they currently exist are direct reactions to the people who are screaming that their livelihood is being attacked. Money talks.