More than it should...
Today, Sunday 18 Apr, there were almost 15 violations of the ADIZ (not the exact number, but close). Way too many. Nice flying weather on a weekend and that's the result we get. Last weekend the weather was crappy and we only had a couple.
Any pilot who flys an aircraft needs to know that if you go near the Washington ADIZ, or any Presidential TFR no matter where it is, you are being watched. The privilege of strapping your pink carcass into an airplane demands the professionalism that being a pilot entails. Check the NOTAMS and know the rules for the ADIZ before you fly. Monitor 121.5 at all times. Watch the news and know where the President is at, then avoid him. It's not worth your ticket and the aircraft you're flying.
Almost every ADIZ violator gets a call when they land to call Potomac. Depending on the severity of the violation, they might have a reception party waiting for them shortly after landing, if they weren't forced to land. The FAA tracks all tail numbers and they'll find you eventually.
Some tips for avoiding the wrath of the FAA/Customs:
1. Know EXACTLY where the ADIZ/TFR is located.
2. If you are going to penetrate the ADIZ, call Potomac early and get talking/squawking early...before you bust the boundry.
3. Always monitor 121.5 (with the volume turned up so you can hear it!).
4. Know the procedures for the airport you are flying to/into and out of, they are different for some of the airports.
5. Know your interception procedures.
6. Check and re-check the NOTAMS before you fly.
7. If you are flying into one of the ADIZ airports and the controller, out of habit, tells you "frequency change approved, squawk 1200" DON'T do it! Keep the discreet squawk until you land. If you roll 1200, you get violated. Same goes for outbound from the ADIZ. Make sure you are well clear of the ADIZ before switching to 1200.
8. Know what the winds are doing to your aircraft. I've seen many guys/gals fly out of Leesburg northbound, exit Mickey's ear (look at the ADIZ, looks like the silhouette of Mickey's head with a gouter over the Cheaspeake), squawk 1200, and turn to the northeast and get blown, so to speak, back into the ADIZ because of strong northwesterly winds. Did everything right, just forgot about applying a wind correction. Still a violation.
9. Don't try to be cute. Don't try to fly in or out of the ADIZ at low altitude thinking no one can see you, they see you. And don't think that turning off the transponder will help you out, like I said...they see you. If you do try to be cute, you exponentially increase your chances of having a party for you when you land.
AOPA is great since they will e-mail you about TFRs in your area as soon as they get word of a TFR. Camp David is a prime example.
Hope this helps all pilots out there understand just a little bit better about how to deal with the post 9/11 world when flying around the DC area.
Out...
