Flying at High Rock - Special Instructions

by Cragin Shelton

The High Rock hang gliding site at PennMar sits at the very edge of the prohibited airspace P-40, inside restricted airspace R-4009. P-40 is the protective ring around Camp David. Normal local area flying at High Rock, landing in the valley to the front, is usually not a problem. However, flying too far behind launch, at any altitude, will place you in the prohibited airspace. Local rule of thumb is not to fly beyond the very obvious radio towers behind launch. In order to avoid P-40 incursions during XC flights at or near High Rock, there are special requirements for any cross country flights there. This affects over-the back XC flight at the Pulpit, as well!

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the FAA temporarily expanded the radius of P-40 to 8 nautical miles. This enlarged P-40 size CLOSED HIGH ROCK to all flight. Since then the enlarged P-40 was removed, allowing flight, and then reinstated for the weekend of September 28-30. It was in place for two additional periods in early October, and then from October 12 through the 31st. It appears that a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) enlarging P-40 (and closing High Rock for us) will be in effect every time the President or Vice President is at Camp David. When the President or VP are at Camp David, not only is P-40 at 8NM radius, but there will be fighter combat air patrol (CAP) over the area, with instructions to force out or down all aircraft attempting to enter the airspace. While the fighters will save live fire as a last resort, I should not need to point out the affect of a 400 knot visual ID fly-by by an F-15 or F-16 on our fragile birds. With these new rules of engagement at High Rock, it is essentialfor all of us to check for a TFR for P-40 on every day we plan to fly there.

Before flying High Rock, unless you have confirmation from other HG pilots on THAT DAY call 1-800-WX-BRIEF and ask the NOTAM briefer if there are any TFR or advisories for Thurmont, Maryland or P-40. If there is a Thurmont MD TFR showing radius of 8 NM, then HIGH ROCK IS CLOSED that day. Note that the NOTAM advisory will also state that it does not apply to fighter aircraft flying CAP over P-40.

To make life a little easier, there is a web site that we think will give up to date NOTAMS to include any P-40 TFR. The FAA does not post NOTAMS on line. You have to call a NOTAM briefer as described above. However, the military has an online site. To use it, type KZDC in the ICAO box, which is the code for the ARTCC (air route) to Washington DC. (Using local airport codes like KHGR for Hagerstown or MD98 for Fort Richey will NOT produce the Thurmont MD advisory, if in effect.) The site looks to be updated often enough to safely use for High Rock restrictions.

In the resulting list of route advisories, scroll down the entire list to check for any marked for Thurmont. You will only see the P-40 restriction when it is in effect. There is also an alternative site which appears to be a front end, non-secure, into the same military database at jcs.mil.In both cases, search on ICAO Identifier KZDC to get the Thurmont MD notices that will close High Rock. www.aeroplanner.com is also the source of online sectional and WAC charts. Twice this month the expanded P-40 has been put in place on Friday morning, effective that afternoon. I think we are quickly learning that it is essential for a cell-phone toting pilot to call for a NOTAM brief from launch at HR every day we try to fly there. Call 1-800-WX-BRIEF and ask for any FDC or flight restrictions for Thurmont MD.