Diverting under IFR and TFR concerns...

Stomp16

Stomp16

You mean Shennanigans?!?!
I came across a situation yesterday that I believe I know the correct answer to but am not 100%. Enroute IFR from KDAY to KPNE we were paralleling a line of storms about 200NM in length. The storms were clipping east at a fast pace but slowly moving south as well. The south movement and buildups caused us to divert a few times to the south. The south diversion brought us ever so close to the DC TFR. I inquired to the controllers if we were ok to divert into that airspace since we were IFR but never got an answer. We ended up missing the airspace by about a mile so it was never an issue. However, I would still like to find out the answer to this situation. Under IFR, when diverting and responsible for your own routing at that point, are you ok to fly into TFR's, especially the airspace around DC?
 
If you were on an IFR flight plan you are fine. Its only VFR traffic they are concerned with. Link to the DC TFR Notam http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/notams.html

Part 3 of 7 "ALL AIRCRAFT; 1. SHALL FILE AND ACTIVATE AN IFR OR VFR DC SFRA FLIGHT PLAN. 2. SHALL SQUAWK THE ASSIGNED TRANSPONDER CODE 3. OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES ARE RESTRICTED TO AN INDICATED AIRSPEED OF 180 KNOTS OR LESS, IF UNABLE THE PILOT SHALL CONTACT POTOMAC TRACON ON (PCT) AND ADVISE THEM OF THE AIRCRAFT'S OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS."
 
I was instructed not to divert when I had an IFE in the DC SFRA, but that was years ago. It took some arguing, buy worked out in the end.
 
I figured we were fine under IFR as I've been through plenty of TFR's that way. However, I've never been outside a TFRA/SFRA area while IFR, then granted my own nav which would have taken me into the SFRA area if we had to divert any farther. I was unsure of taking myself in there while diverting and the controllers didn't help very much.

In conclusion, I didn't want to do anything that might trigger an inquiry (cue the everyone is furloughed right now jokes).
 
Stomp16 said:
I figured we were fine under IFR as I've been through plenty of TFR's that way. However, I've never been outside a TFRA/SFRA area while IFR, then granted my own nav which would have taken me into the SFRA area if we had to divert any farther. I was unsure of taking myself in there while diverting and the controllers didn't help very much.

In conclusion, I didn't want to do anything that might trigger an inquiry (cue the everyone is furloughed right now jokes).
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The guys who punch certificates are still working :)
 
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