Obama's Weekend Southland Visit Prompts Temporary Flight Restrictions
FULLERTON (CBSLA.com) — President Barack Obama's weekend visit to the Southland will have an effect on airspace.
"The presidential [temporary flight restrictions] is a 10 nautical mile ring and 30 nautical mile ring that follow the president anywhere he goes," flight school owner and instructor Garrett Hess said.
The flight rules will affect the Palm Springs, Laguna Beach and Anaheim areas from 8:15 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. Saturday.
Smaller planes that file a flight plan and commercial airlines are exempt.
"This time around, it is going to affect the 10 nautical-mile ring, which is a no-fly zone for light airplanes, small aircraft. That's going to affect Fullerton Municipal Airport, Long Beach Airport, John Wayne Airport, the Orange County airports," Hess said.
Not only will flight schools like Hess' take a hit, so will other aviation-related businesses.
"[Fullerton] airport will be a ghost town. Nobody is going to be flying in and out of here," Hess said.
Hess said the penalty for entering presidential space is serious.
"[The penalty] is a minimum 30 days suspension of your pilot's certificate and it can be six months or further if it's found to be negligence or on purpose," he said.
