What happens when aircraft bust restricted airspace but aren't listening to guard or ATC freqs?
Posted by _VNAV_PTH_@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 20 comments
I was transiting the D.C. area recently and a C182 cruised right on through the middle of R-4005. Patuxent approach called him repeatedly many times before he entered and while he was flying through with no response.
Later I looked up his tail number and saw his flight. He maintained a straight line to his destination and apparently never got intercepted or anything.
How does ATC handle this? Do they send an angry letter to the address registered with the aircraft? I can't imagine that nothing happens.
Otherwise-Pen70@reddit
Ah they will find YOU - your ADS-B gave you away. NASA Report?
RollSomeCoal@reddit
Unless no adsb
link_dead@reddit
You don’t need ADS-B for that, your transponder is interrogated by the ground radar system and has all the details required to track down the aircraft.
x4457@reddit
And if you have no transponder, you’re still a primary target and can be tracked.
Bunslow@reddit
unless you're in france and there is no such thing as primary radar (or im sure some other countries too)
x4457@reddit
I highly, highly doubt that’s correct.
AIRdomination@reddit
Flight tracking was still very much a thing before ADS-B. Your transponder is still a dead giveaway, especially if it’s Mode S.
vanhawk28@reddit
They’d still follow the plane and then call the fbo and ask what plane that didn’t have Adsb just landed
Ok-Money2811@reddit
A restricted area? ATC will usually track him down where he lands if they can.
A Prohibited area…that will likely be a little different
Weakness4Fleekness@reddit
Ah look an f-15 is rocking his wings at me, he must want to race!
Rude-Sandwich5225@reddit
If the restricted area is the DC SFRA Secret Service will be paying the pilot a visit.
Impossible-Bad-2291@reddit
A friend of mine once got off easy after doing something dumb like that. He flew through some Class D without realizing and all he got was a finger wagging from the next controller telling him that the other controller had been trying to reach him. I am pretty sure that was the end of it; they didn't even write up a CADORS, or anything.
Bunslow@reddit
well tbf a random class D is a bit different from a Restricted area in the vicinity of Washington DC
bigbadcrusher@reddit
I’m in the US and fly out of an Echo that’s within 25 miles of a Charlie. Was just starting a XC and heard a student out of the Charlie call up Departure and say there were climbing to 5,500. ATC asked them if they were supposed to maintain 5,000 and when they admitted yes and corrected, ATC said “I don’t care, well, I do, just be very careful with this stuff” instead of making it a whole big deal. Especially if it’s an airport full of pilots training, they try to be understanding and not get people in trouble if it doesn’t cause an issue.
ops_asi@reddit
ATC will tag the offender with a code and track their flight to the destination. If there’s a tower or FBO they may be able to get ahold of them and give them the message that you need to call them to get the brasher.
If all they get is the tail number, they’ll still send the report to the responsible flight standards office for investigation and whatever further actions are warranted. Just because they didn’t get intercepted doesn’t mean they’re not in hot water.
_VNAV_PTH_@reddit (OP)
This aircraft's registration is not private. I was able to look up the name and address of the registered owner.
What type of action might the FAA take against the pilot?
Wild-Hat6077@reddit
If the pilot has a clean record and is generally forthcoming with the FAA when they talk to them, they will likely be offered the opportunity to complete some Remedial Training under the Compliance Program, which doesn't result in a finding of violation or go on their airman record.
If they have a history of issues, or are not willing to cooperate, they could get either a formal warning letter (goes on record for 2 years) or at worst a suspension of their certificate.
Wemest@reddit
They may have them do a 709b. It’s a flight with an FAA examiner. Probably have them fly a route that would transit class c or b airspace and make sure they do it right.
cazzipropri@reddit
He's probably a Pilot of a Certain Age^(TM).
I bet the FAA will have a re-educational talk with him.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I was transiting the D.C. area recently and a C182 cruised right on through the middle of R-4005. Patuxent approach called him repeatedly many times before he entered and while he was flying through with no response.
Later I looked up his tail number and saw his flight. He maintained a straight line to his destination and apparently never got intercepted or anything.
How does ATC handle this? Do they send an angry letter to the address registered with the aircraft? I can't imagine that nothing happens.
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