Flying in the Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area

[MooneyBob]

I will need to fly through and land in the Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area multiple times soon.

Where can I find all the rules and procedures to follow in plain English?

Thank you.

[spaz]

The regs require special online training and certification. That is the most plain English explanation that I have found. It takes less than an hour and I find refreshing it once in a while useful. That being said you just need to file a flight plan and never squawk 1200, ever. The training is at www.faasafety.gov.

Good luck, Mike

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[MooneyBob]

Thanks. That makes sense.

[Marauder]

Seth and a few others are the expert on the SFRA and FRZ. Depends on where you are going (just SFRA, through the FRZ or landing in it) and if you are going VFR vs. IFR.

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[Marauder]

Bob - you will need to register on the FAA Safety site and sign up and complete the SFRA/FRZ course. Upon completion you will be issued a card that you will need to carry with you indicating that you are "trained".

I'm not sure this is the correct page for the course, but you can get to the registration site from here by hitting the Log-in button and registering, once registered search for SFRA/FRZ: https://www.faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/course_content.aspx?cID=55&preview=true

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[Steve65E-NC]

The course at www.faasafety.gov  is much like other Wings courses except it is permanant.  As I recall it is clear, straightforward, and reasonably brief.   The other Wings courses roll and expire.  To keep Wings currency you have to continue adding courses.  If you are not part of Wings, they have some good on-line courses and you can have AOPA or FAA local courses credited.  The other part of Wings is a flight component.  It counts as a biannual but the elements covered are much more specific.  A Wings flight review, in my experience, takes a lot less time (cost) than a regular biannual.

[Roger O]

Bob,  it has been a while since I flew through the DC area, but I believe the easiest way is to simply file an IFR flight plan, and let ATC do the work for you.

[Jerry 5TJ]

Take the online training, about an hour total.

AOPA site has tutorial and guidelines for SFRA operations.

File IFR in and out and don't cancel until you're on the ground.

Normal IFR operations for airports under the outer ring.

I've flown into Gaithersburg airport several times in past two years IFR but I have not flown VFR in the SFRA.

[Danb]

Bob even when filing IRF you should advise the briefer that you are familiar with the special flight rules for navigating in the DC area...I generally advise early on in the consult with the briefer 

[StevenL757]

Agree with DanB...volunteer the information.  Their SOP is to ask you that question anyway, regardless of filing VFR or IFR.  Sherman18 has it right also - let ATC take you through the majority of it.  It's really a non-event.  Remember, "they" are there to help you, so relax, fly the airplane above all, and don't focus too much on the details.

[John Pleisse]

Also Leesburg has descrete radio freq's, codes and corridor inset. Just file and you'll be fine. I would add to Spaz's comment, that the online course completion is mandatory. Monitor guard 121.5.

[gjkirsch]

The briefer will ask you almost immediately if you are familiar with the rules.  As others have said, it is much easier if you file IFR, that said.  You will absolutely be on the airways most of;  if not, all the time (within 75 miles more or less).  Expect a lot of traffic over the radio, with published arrivals and crossing altitudes closely followed. 

[Bolter]

In 2012 I flew coast to coast and stopped at Tipton (Fort Meade) to visit family.  I studied the SFRA procedures and took the required online training and bought paper copies of the local charts and carried paper print outs of the "gates" and other supporting documents.  I was doing my best to be prepared.  

 

What I was not prepared for the is ATC style and procedures.  For example, I was not told to expect that flight following with ATC would always drop me just outside of the boundary and have me squawk 1200 instead of handing me off to the SFRA.  Forcing me to get the attention and squawk code from the SFRA controller in a very short time before I needed to orbit to stay clear of the boundary.  I have flown primarily in busy LA airspace and I am comfortable with radio work, but still found it hard to get a call to the SFRA ATC in time.  

 

This was my experience several times going in and out while in the area.  At Mooney speeds, they do not give you much time and they are very busy.  I needed 3 calls to get a response in one case.  I was forced to circle (in busy airspace) to stay out of the SFRA boundary.  Do not take chances for the few times you will be in the area.  File IFR every time you are coming in.  Suspension is mandatory for any infraction unless you get the NASA form in.  If you do cross a boundary, file the NASA form even if they have asked you for information.  Legally the "phone call" is not informing you of a violation, so you can still file the NASA form.   

 

-dan

[201er]

Plan A - Just file IFR

Plan B - Go get instrument rated, then file IFR

 

and only if you must, Plan C - Do the VFR DC SFRA flight plan. Be sure to find a nice brick wall to beat your head against in the process.

[Will W]

You can tell us what your route of flight is and can also spell out what the FAA Safety training doesn't provide.  If you'd like, I can answer many questions on the subject.  You can either send me a message if you want your flight plan not public or you can feel free to write it here so that others can learn.

 

FSS Briefer

Instructor in SFRA

Familiar with FRZ/SFRA

Operate regularly in and out of SFRA

[Marauder]

You can tell us what your route of flight is and can also spell out what the FAA Safety training doesn't provide. If you'd like, I can answer many questions on the subject. You can either send me a message if you want your flight plan not public or you can feel free to write it here so that others can learn.

FSS Briefer

Instructor in SFRA

Familiar with FRZ/SFRA

Operate regularly in and out of SFRA

I did a BFR this weekend and interesting the SFRA/FRZ topic came up during the ground piece. As was mentioned above, flying into the SFRA is easier by filing IFR. I asked a couple of questions that the CFI responded to and wanted to confirm.

If your intent is to fly through the SFRA VFR but not land in it, what do you put for destination airport, the destination airport outside of the SFRA or the exit gate?

Second question. If you are landing Leesburg VFR but are entering the SFRA say at Wooly, what happens when you cross the boundary into the Leesburg area? Are you instructed to switch to 1226 or remain on the discrete code assigned? I read the new changes effective today and it looks like you may stay on the discrete code.

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[Will W]

Relating to the first question, you would want to put gate to gate if you are coming in and not landing in the SFRA.  A highly sought after route is a transition through the SFRA that puts people east of Dulles.  It's definitely possible at the non heavy push times so if you were SW going through and transitioning to the NE, then you would file for example, Departure: FLUKY Arrival: WOOLY.

 

Your second questions is interesting because it also does come up often where people departing JYO want to go to the eastern shore and back under Bravo between BWI and DCA.  In the scenario you listed, you would not be able to switch to 1226 from the squawk code assigned because of the entry point into the Leesburg maneuvering area would be from inside the SFRA.  You would have to keep your squawk code (The one assigned by ATC) all the way to the ground.

 

The new squawk code did go into effect yesterday so it is now 1226 out and in to JYO which is very nice.  I can't wait to see the numbers of people accidentally squawking 1227 coming inbound when it is no longer in effect.  They just had a tour at the Potomac TRACON where I always ask the panel (made up of Secret Service, FAA, and Coast Guard) if it is ok to leave the 1226 code on while I'm out flying over airports west or north.  They said it's not a problem to leave JYO (on a 1226) and go to OKV, FRR, or MRB (the typical playing around airports) and keep the 1226 code the whole time as long as my eventual goal is to return to JYO.