Busting the Washington ADIZ????

sorrygottarunway

Well-Known Member
Soooo... I'm up here in CT with a trip to see my sister in Washington next weekend. I still need to build cross country time, so I thought it would be fun to do the trip in a 152. It would be very enjoyable to say the least.

I know there is an ADIZ and TFR around washington DC, and the Freeway airport (nearest my sister) lies in a little semicircle outside of this airport.

Here's what the situation looks like, if you aren't familiar.

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I've dealt with the NY class bravo nonsense before, so I'm pretty much prepared for that leg- I have alternate plans of action for getting through NY through the corridor, but I've never come near to a TFR. They're pretty restrictive around washington, and no matter what I do, I'll be popping into one before landing.

I would hate to bust a TFR, but I probably would not be the friendliest or the most cooperative if asked to phone the Secret Service after doing my best to stay on course and in contact with the controllers.

I will be operating VFR on a flight plan with flight following all the way down. Depending on winds, there might be a fuel stop.

So... Any advice about going about this flight? Do I need to call a special number? Should I (tongue in cheek) sign up for AOPA legal services before I do this flight (hahaha, now that would be the day).
 
by the way... what does the flight school at W00 do anyway? They have a big permanent TFR over them now. Are all the students now just going someplace else?
 
If I get intercepted by anything while talking to an approach controller, I will either a) ask the controller what the @#$% is going on or b) declare an emergency and request vectors direct W00 and wait to yell at the "please phone" peeps later.
 
OR EVEN BETTER: I'll bring my collection of potato-men and launch them at the helicopter.

I can see the headlines now.... hey, if it'll get me on TV, maybe it'll pay for my flight training...
 
If you're on flight following with Potomac Approach, I wouldn't worry about it. [edit: you have to be talking to Potomac to be in the ADIZ so this isn't an issue]

Here's what it says on AirNav:
STANDARD INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURES FOR FREEWAY ARPT ARE AUTHORIZED TO PENETRATE THE WASHINGTON D.C. FLIGHT RESTRICTED ZONE UNDER THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS: ONLY FAR PARTS 91 & 135 OPERATORS AUTHORIZED. NO PRACTICE APPROACHES.

I assume (without looking at the approach charts) that there is enough room for you to get in VFR. I'm sure Potomac would vector you in if you need it. You have GPS, right?
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Just watch for the background check
Ashcroft might strip you from your citizenship and then make you undergo the long (and extensive) background check !!!

I'm just kiddin' johnny,,,,
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All you need to do is get a squawk ahead of time from ATC. Get the squawk and you can proceed right on your merry way.

Please don't screw around with the ADIZ, because if you do, then guys like me who fly around it will pay the price.

And you might end up spending some quality time with Jose Padilla.
 
Make sure you have an ADIZ flight plane (DVFR) on file and open it if you are going to penetrate the ADIZ.

If not, then be very careful. Talking to approach does not relieve you of your responsibility to remain clear of the ADIZ, prohibited areas, etc.

If you're an AOPA member, I'd give them a call to hammer out any more specific questions. They're based at FDK, just north of the ADIZ, so the technical specialists have experience flying around the ADIZ as well.

Not to put any pressure on you, but THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ERROR.

Have a fantastic flight, enjoy the DC Metro area, and fly safe!

Cheers
 
just make sure you have an adiz flight plan on file, then call potomac tracon when you get close and let them know you would like your squawk and vectors into the adiz. they will be more than happy to accomodate. they will probably way something like"cessna xxx squawk xxxx and ident." "cessna xxx your radar contact 10 north of freeway, proceed oncourse, advise when you have the field in sight." "roger, field in sight." roger, cessna xxx stay on that code till you are on the ground, radar service termintated, freq change approved" very simple BUT YOU MUST HAVE A FLIGHT PLAN ON FILE within two hours of arrival. let me know if you have any other questions.
 
The requirements for ADIZ penetration are that you have a squawk and that you're in contact with ATC. So, if you're getting flight following all the way down, you're good to go.

Make sure that when you file your flight plan initially that you mention to the briefer that you're going to be flying into the ADIZ so that the folks at ATC know that and can handle you appropriately.

Also, remember to keep on squawking the code they gave you when you enter the pattern at W00. Keep squawking that code until you're on the ground.

The ADIZ is kind of a joke. You need to get a squawk and talk to ATC but that's it. And anyone can get that squawk, so I wonder just how this thing is supposed to make us safer.
 
[ QUOTE ]

The ADIZ is kind of a joke. You need to get a squawk and talk to ATC but that's it. And anyone can get that squawk, so I wonder just how this thing is supposed to make us safer.

[/ QUOTE ]

I never understood that one thing they had for a couple months, all you had to do was squawk 1234 (or somthing along those lines) and be montering Patomic. What the hell was the point of that? You didn't even need to talk to any one.
 
There are also procedures where you squak 1205 and monitor Potomac when departing the ADIZ from select 'perimeter' airports (MTN being one). You still have to get the discrete code to get back in.
 
[ QUOTE ]
There are also procedures where you squak 1205 and monitor Potomac when departing the ADIZ from select 'perimeter' airports (MTN being one). You still have to get the discrete code to get back in.

[/ QUOTE ]

Did they get rid of that? I remember seeing a flier in the FBO at MTN talking about how you must now file a flight plan.
 
It went away during the ORANGE ALERT late last year but was back last time I checked. I haven't flown up there in a month or so though.
 
Which airport are you flying into?

Before the Washington ADIZ, look out for P40 (Camp David). Stay far, far away from it. If you are flying VFR, just stay east of the Cement plant (which is shown on the Terminal Area chart), that's what I do.

Mahesh
 
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