AIM
4/3/14
3−5−3
Other Airspace Areas
b. The purpose for establishing a temporary
flight restrictions area is to:
1.
Protect persons and property in the air or on
the surface from an existing or imminent hazard
associated with an incident on the surface when the
presence of low flying aircraft would magnify, alter,
spread, or compound that hazard (14 CFR
Section 91.137(a)(1));
2.
Provide a safe environment for the operation
of disaster relief aircraft (14 CFR Sec-
tion 91.137(a)(2)); or
3.
Prevent an unsafe congestion of sightseeing
aircraft above an incident or event which may
generate a high degree of public interest (14 CFR
Section 91.137(a)(3)).
4.
Protect declared national disasters for
humanitarian reasons in the State of Hawaii (14 CFR
Section 91.138).
5.
Protect the President, Vice President, or other
public figures (14 CFR Section 91.141).
6.
Provide a safe environment for space agency
operations (14 CFR Section 91.143).
c.
Except for hijacking situations, when the
provisions of 14 CFR Section 91.137(a)(1) or (a)(2)
are necessary, a temporary flight restrictions area will
only be established by or through the area manager at
the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)
having jurisdiction over the area concerned. A
temporary flight restrictions NOTAM involving the
conditions of 14 CFR Section 91.137(a)(3) will be
issued at the direction of the service area office
director having oversight of the airspace concerned.
When hijacking situations are involved, a temporary
flight restrictions area will be implemented through
the TSA Aviation Command Center. The appropriate
FAA air traffic element, upon receipt of such a
request, will establish a temporary flight restrictions
area under 14 CFR Section 91.137(a)(1).
d.
The FAA accepts recommendations for the
establishment of a temporary flight restrictions area
under 14 CFR Section 91.137(a)(1) from military
major command headquarters, regional directors of
the Office of Emergency Planning, Civil Defense
State Directors, State Governors, or other similar
authority. For the situations involving 14 CFR
Section 91.137(a)(2), the FAA accepts recommenda-
tions from military commanders serving as regional,
subregional, or Search and Rescue (SAR) coordina-
tors; by military commanders directing or
coordinating air operations associated with disaster
relief; or by civil authorities directing or coordinating
organized relief air operations (includes representa-
tives of the Office of Emergency Planning, U.S.
Forest Service, and State aeronautical agencies).
Appropriate authorities for a temporary flight
restrictions establishment under 14 CFR
Section 91.137(a)(3) are any of those listed above or
by State, county, or city government entities.
e.
The type of restrictions issued will be kept to a
minimum by the FAA consistent with achievement of
the necessary objective. Situations which warrant the
extreme restrictions of 14 CFR Section 91.137(a)(1)
include, but are not limited to: toxic gas leaks or
spills, flammable agents, or fumes which if fanned by
rotor or propeller wash could endanger persons or
property on the surface, or if entered by an aircraft
could endanger persons or property in the air;
imminent volcano eruptions which could endanger
airborne aircraft and occupants; nuclear accident or
incident; and hijackings. Situations which warrant
the restrictions associated with 14 CFR Sec-
tion 91.137(a)(2) include: forest fires which are
being fought by releasing fire retardants from
aircraft; and aircraft relief activities following a
disaster (earthquake, tidal wave, flood, etc.). 14 CFR
Section 91.137(a)(3) restrictions are established for
events and incidents that would attract an unsafe
congestion of sightseeing aircraft.
f.
The amount of airspace needed to protect
persons and property or provide a safe environment
for rescue/relief aircraft operations is normally
limited to within 2,000 feet above the surface and
within a 3−nautical−mile radius. Incidents occurring
within Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace will
normally be handled through existing procedures and
should not require the issuance of a temporary flight
restrictions NOTAM. Temporary flight restrictions
affecting airspace outside of the U.S. and its
territories and possessions are issued with verbiage
excluding that airspace outside of the 12−mile coastal
limits.