President George H.W. Bush died two years. He left office more than 27 years ago. As far as pilots in New England are concerned, his most important legacy is Prohibited Area P-67, centered on the former/late president’s house in Kennebunkport, Maine:
It is thus illegal to zip up the coast at a low altitude, but why? To protect Barbara Bush, the former First Lady? She died in 2018 as well. Because George W. Bush occasionally goes up there? (But then why would it be necessary to “check NOTAMs daily for expansion”? Does a big TFR follow an ex-President?) Because the U.S. government is good at prohibiting things, but has no mechanism for de-prohibiting?
We need a volunteer to bust it and see if they care.
Interesting. I wonder if all the other recent Presidents and notables have restricted airspaces near their homes?
Today while I was driving back from a destination, thinking of this post, I also wondered: if a former President goes to jail or prison, do they have Secret Service protection in the clink, so to speak? How would that work? Does the prison they’re housed in receive restricted airspace? Has anyone had to think of this before?
From 1999, inre: Clintons in Chappaqua and the FAA:
https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/02/nyregion/there-goes-the-airspace-clintons-close-on-a-house.html
“The only restriction on flying over a former president’s home that is currently remaining, however, is over former President George Bush’s home in Kennebunkport, Me. That restriction prohibits flying below 1,000 feet when Mr. Bush is not present and prohibits flying below 3,000 feet when Mr. Bush is at home.”
So this is more than 20 years old. It sounds to me like it’s time to rescind the restriction.
Call the Supply Commander. Evidently the FAA has too much supply of restricted airspace:
“And, the Supply Commander must work with Governors to draw on the support of the National Guard and a newly hired and trained U.S. Public Health Corps, including mobilized AmeriCorps and Peace Corps volunteers and those laid off by this crisis, to assess inventory of critical supplies and assist with their equitable distribution among other functions.”
https://joebiden.com/the-biden-plan-to-coordinate-critical-materials-for-all-50-states-and-u-s-territories/#
“Because the U.S. government is good at prohibiting things, but has no mechanism for de-prohibiting?” We have a mechanism. His name is Donald Trump!
Many of my fellow Garden Staters get quite annoyed whenever the President stays in his golf resort off of 287, as the restricted airspace that accompanies his visits is quite an encumbrance for local airports.
Come January 20 I don’t know if this will be an issue, as his legal residence is now MarALago.
Terran Presidents are not the only heads of state in Kennebunkport.
Zaphod Beeblebrox needs all the airspace he can get!
That restriction is needed to remind hou polloi who their masters are.
Nothing to see here. Keep working so we can tax you.