According to AOPA, yesterday the FAA announced a new training program to educate pilots nationwide about the Washington, D.C., Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ), Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), and other security-related airspace restrictions. “The proposal will require pilots to complete an FRZ/ADIZ and security TFR awareness training program or an FAA safety seminar. Pilots would need to make a logbook endorsement and would receive a completion certificate that they’d be required to carry with them during flights into the national capital region. Pilots living within 100 miles of the ADIZ would have 30 days to comply, while pilots elsewhere would be given 120 days.”
The training requirements will be included in a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) to be published in the Federal Register at some point in the future. However, the FAA has not indicated how soon this SFAR would be published. In connection with the SFAR, the FAA has also indicated it could increase civil penalties for violating the FRZ/ADIZ (currently $1,100.00 per violation for an individual). The FAA is also considering changes to certificate action sanctions for FRZ/ADIZ violations including raising the certificate suspension from 30 days to 120 days and revoking the certificates of repeat offenders.
Although this proposed rule appears less onerous than some of the other knee-jerk proposals such as prosecuting and imprisoning ADIZ violators, I question the need and the likelihood of the SFAR having much of an impact on ADIZ violations. Perhaps it will raise awareness. That is always a good thing. Time will tell.
