Flying over a nuclear plant?

N941WR · #1 07-31-2008, 10:17 AM

Charlotte, NC has two nuc plants, one on the north end of town and the other on the south end.

I could not find any regs regarding flight over nuc plants, although I know it is not good to loiter over them, I have always thought you could motor over them w/o issue.

Is there any blanket restriction? If so, could you post the exact regulation?

az_gila · #2 07-31-2008, 10:26 AM

It's a blanket NOTAM....

4/0811 ...SPECIAL NOTICE... THIS IS A RESTATEMENT OF A PREVIOUSLY ISSUED ADVISORY NOTICE. IN THE INTEREST OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, PILOTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO AVOID THE AIRSPACE ABOVE, OR IN PROXIMITY TO SUCH SITES AS POWER PLANTS (NUCLEAR, HYDRO-ELECTRIC, OR COAL), DAMS, REFINERIES, INDUSTRIAL COMPLEXES, MILITARY FACILITIES AND OTHER SIMILAR FACILITIES. PILOTS SHOULD NOT CIRCLE AS TO LOITER IN THE VICINITY OVER THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES. WIE UNTIL UFN

You can fly over them... just don't do a circling photo mission near one...

AltonD · #3 07-31-2008, 10:37 AM

from the NOTAMS

FDC 4/0811 FDC ...SPECIAL NOTICE...
THIS IS A RESTATEMENT OF A PREVIOUSLY ISSUED ADVISORY NOTICE.
IN THE INTEREST OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE,
PILOTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO AVOID THE AIRSPACE ABOVE, OR IN
PROXIMITY TO SUCH SITES AS POWER PLANTS (NUCLEAR, HYDRO-ELECTRIC, OR
COAL), DAMS, REFINERIES, INDUSTRIAL COMPLEXES, MILITARY FACILITIES
AND OTHER SIMILAR FACILITIES. PILOTS SHOULD NOT CIRCLE AS TO LOITER
IN THE VICINITY OVER THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES.

I work at one. A low flying aircraft is a call to approach control and the local sheriff and maybe even the FBI. Maintain a low profie, avoid the area if at all possible. If you loiter over the area, expect to have the sheriff waiting on you when you land.

bsacks05 · #4 07-31-2008, 10:54 AM

I wondered about that last year as I turned base within 1/2 mile of Three Mile Island on approach to Harrisburg International (MDT). TMI cannot be avoided because it is about 1-2 miles south of the airport and directly under final for the pax jets. But given the history of TMI..............

Kahuna · #5 07-31-2008, 01:59 PM

how does "strongly advised" translate into can't?
How does 'strongly advised' translate into a violation?

turbosaaber · #6 07-31-2008, 02:03 PM

Great topic...just wanted to chime in here, I'm a Miami center controller and we have a powerplant south of MIA... we actually run simulated scenarios of IFR aircraft deviating from their flightpath deviating to intercept the plant. It seems years ago...no problem...but now after 9/11, don't chance it. We have the SE air defense nearby. You should see two F-16's try to follow a light single, can you say s turns????

If you are in Class c airspace, the controller should ward you off so to speak...hope this helps...

Rivethead · #7 07-31-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kahuna

how does "strongly advised" translate into can't?
How does 'strongly advised' translate into a violation?

You're strongly advised to do 51% of the build yourself.

Ambiguity leads to questions.
Rule setting by commitee sometimes (I'm being generous with "sometimes") leads to ambiguity.

cytoxin · #8 07-31-2008, 02:54 PM

heard just last friday a light plane was circling the HB ROBINSON NUCLEAR plant at lake robinson in hartsville s.c. Supposedly two f-16s were sent to escort him from the area?????

if i fly near it, and i do , i monitor 121.5. i suppose strongly advised means whoever is in charge that day can cry about an airplane circling the place. really, what could a light plane do to a facility like that other than chip the paint off of the concrete?

Rick6a · #9 07-31-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kahuna

how does "strongly advised" translate into can't?
How does 'strongly advised' translate into a violation?

I am quoting parts of a recent form letter I received from Aviation Safety: "Reports say that more than 1700 general aviation aircraft have been intercepted in the last two years. The Air Force says the number is much higher."

And this gem:

"A pilot was trying to help out ATC so he cancelled IFR when he broke out and saw the runway under an 800-foot ceiling in two miles of visibility. An FAA inspector on the ground busted him for operating VFR in IMC!"

My take on all this:

Given that any random FAA inspector can interpret the regulations in a seemingly arbitrary manner, I am not inclined to knowingly flirt with the fates thereby risking a lengthly, costly, and emotional investment in a legal defense that will essentially test my lawyer's skill at parsing the English language.

For years, I would overfly the nuclear power plant at Calloway County in Missouri for no other reason than to glimpse inside the dark abyss of the cooling towers but for me at least, those days are past. Those who feel froggy enough to tell officials to "go pound salt" may well enjoy certain technical niceties that *may* support their position relative to potential enforcement action (or worse) but really.....who needs the aggravation?

engineerorange · #10 07-31-2008, 05:12 PM

The airport that I fly out of is 7 miles east of a coal fired power plant and under CLT's class C airspace. I routinely fly past the plant at 1500' AGL. What I don't do is fly directly over it, circle it, or start a descent until after I am past the plant. So far it has worked fine.