Violations of Temporary Flight Restrictions and Air Defense Identification Zones: an Analysis of Airspace Violations and Pilot Report Data

The purpose of this study is to determine the apparent factors and causes of violations of restricted airspace, particularly temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) and air defense identification zones (ADIZs). After the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has greatly expanded the use of TFRs and ADIZs to more securely control the airspace around potential terrorist targets. Since then, there have been a substantial number of accidental violations of restricted airspace with over 2900 violations in the two years between June 2002 and June 2004 alone. This frequency of violations incurs security and safety risks plus economic costs. By illuminating the reasons for these violations, this study aims to take the first step towards reducing them.