Pilot Deviations

PILOTS, Please read the below message from Sarah Patten concerning a recent up-tick in Pilot Deviations with ATC. Sarah is a local Beech Bonanza CFI and works ATC at Potomac TRACON.

One of the managers at Potomac TRACON pointed out that over the past couple weeks, there seems to
be an increase in pilots being deviated due to airspace violations, particularly involving the SFRA and P-40. Pilots are being deviated if they violate the airspace by even one foot, and pilots loitering directly outside the SFRA boundary while squawking 1200 are now being labeled as Tracks of Interest, which draws even more attention. This
increased attention is coming from outside the FAA, and controllers and managers at Potomac do not get any say in whether security decides a particular aircraft is a concern. In one recentinstance, a pilot departing an airport within the

SFRA, on an IFR clearance, received an IFR re-route; their system swapped their IFR transponder code for a 1200 code when the pilot updated the routing. The controller caught this as soon as the pilot checked on and corrected it, but the aircraft was still issued a BRASHER.

We were hoping you could send a heads up to your email lists to help us spread the word about the increased scrutiny in the area around security-related airspace boundaries. We don’t like seeing pilots receive violations if there is a way to avoid it! Please, if you’re departing from an airport within the SFRA or FRZ, triple check your transponder before you depart to make sure that you are not inadvertently squawking 1200. If you are outside the SFRA and call to get your code to enter, please make sure you have your code set into your transponder well before you cross the SFRA boundary; we recommend a 3-5 mile buffer, if possible. And if you’re doing air work or maneuvering near the SFRA boundary, please give yourself a 3-5 mile buffer if possible, or call Potomac to get a squawk code to avoid an inadvertent airspace violation if you get distracted while maneuvering. We appreciate our local pilots, and we want to see all of you stay safe and violation-free while enjoying our airspace!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out; you can reach us at 540-349-7586 or 540-351-6129.

Thanks!
Sarah Patten
Potomac TRACON Air Traffic Controller
PCT Pilot Outreach Group

We have unique airspace complications with Class B, SFRA, Restricted, Prohibited and TFR airspace. When in doubt find a CFI and operate in, out and around the SFRA to get more comfortable. File a DC SFRA VFR from HEF to WOOLY and plan on getting a Class B clearance and using STAYO HUSEL for fixes to go up the east side of IAD. Take a break at FDK and return. Go enjoy the view and the airspace.
Bob