FAA Bars GA from flying into 12 Major Airports

[hammdo]

Was bound to happen…

https://avbrief.com/ga-flights-barred-at-12-major-airports/?utm_source=newsletter-57&utm_medium=email
 

-Don

[Hank]

Probably due to shutdown-related Controller shortage. After all, these are the busiest airports in the country, and are having a reduction in allowed flights. So we're getting pushed out too, an unsurprising move.

I haven't filed IFR during the shutdown, but was able to get Flight Following around Atlanta last week. They probably want to make sure I stay out of their way!

[hammdo]

I’ve had no problem filing IFR in DFW area. Did several flights last week and over the weekend. No VFR flight following, but now GA cannot land at DFW - that means all ‘unscheduled’ flights - more than likely private jets, etc.. We little flyers generally don’t fly into DFW but there are a ton of airports around DFW that we still go into…

-Don

[RoundTwo]

On Saturday I had no problem with flight following with Atlanta ATC heading to Americus. I needed to get a pop-up IFR to get down, but was forced to go missed and headed home. After canceling IFR, they let me keep the squawk for about 20 minutes when they cut me loose. I continually heard denials for FF requests. It’s a sucky situation but should improve drastically very soon now.

[dkkim73]

I heard some chatter at the FBO yesterday about whether stopping "private flights" would get attention rel/ the shutdown. 

Those airports certainly get enough traffic that prioritizing 121 stuff seems like sound triage. 

I wonder with respect to the above NOTAM how many exceptions would be made for higher-profile or more "connected" GA flights. I suppose there might be a loophole to reclassify a flight as "scheduled". 

Anyone flying corporate/fractional have any insight into what's actually happening? I need to get back to my Polo game...

[midlifeflyer]

The formal order reducing services was published in today’s Federal Reguster. Most of it involves the 10% reduction in 121 and scheduled 135. This is the portion that applies primarily to GA. (Sorry, indenting doesn’t work well here.)

c. Termination of ATC Service Due to Staffing Levels

Accordingly, with respect to ATC services, under the authority provided to the FAA Administrator by 49 U.S.C. 40103, 40113, and 46105(c), it is hereby ordered that:

 

1. When an FAA owned and operated facility does not have adequate staffing levels, ATC may elect not to provide the following services:

a. Radar Traffic Information Service;

b. Radar Assistance to visual flight rule (VFR) aircraft;

c. Terminal Radar Services for VFR aircraft;

d. VFR Traffic Pattern Operations;

e. Practice Approaches to VFR aircraft;

f. Flight checks services to restore inoperable equipment and approaches;

g. ATC services to parachute operations; or,

h. ATC services to certain special or unusual operations.

 

2. When an Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAA) or Military Operating Area (MOA) is located within a geographical area served by an FAA owned and operated facility that does not have adequate staffing levels, ATO may elect not to activate the ATCAA or MOA.

Full Order https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-11-12/pdf/2025-19850.pdf

[EricJ]

I flew yesterday and the ATIS at Goodyear airport said that flight following is not available from Phx ATC.   I also saw that Phoenix Sky Harbor is one of the airports that will no longer accept private aircraft.   That's probably Very Bad News for the FBOs on the south side of KPHX, and it's also bad news for the controlled airports around Phoenix that can handle turbines/jets and are already very congested, as it'll just increase the loads on the controllers at those airports, who are already also very overworked. 

[hammdo]

Alphabet’s are not happy either:

https://avbrief.com/aopa-hits-precedent-of-ga-restrictions/
 

-Don

[kortopates]

I’ve been flying every day is the busy SOCAL airspace and only seen restrictions on VFR services for flight following and practice approaches during busy times. And the occasional tower that goes ATC Zero due to staffing is probably the worst of it. But never an issue with IFR including no significant delays.


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