(August 23, 2004) - The Republican National Convention, to be held in New York City August 30 through September 3, will heavily affect the airspace around New York City, which will be either off-limits or severely restricted to business aviation. Pilots can expect a 7-nm no-fly zone around lower Manhattan. While there will be a small cut-out to allow VFR and IFR departures and arrivals at Teterboro and special departures and arrivals into the Morristown, Farmingdale Republic and Westchester County airports, La Guardia, the Little Ferry Seaplane Base and a handful of heliports will remain off-limits to general aviation. All other flights within the TFR area and outside the 7-nm no-fly zone must file a VFR or IFR flight plan. GA flights are restricted within the rest of the lateral limits of the New York Class B airspace, which covers airspace from the surface to 17,999 feet.

The following aircraft operations will be authorized for general/business aviation:

• Helicopter operations to/from West 30th St Heliport (JRA), 34th St Heliport (6N5), or Port Authority Wall ST Heliport (JRB) are authorized once they have been security screened at either Morristown Municipal (MMU) or Republic Airport (FRG). Overflights of Manhattan are prohibited.
• Only VFR/IFR arrivals or departures at Teterboro Airport (TEB) will be permitted. No touch and go or close in pattern work will be permitted.
• All aircraft must squawk a discrete transponder code assigned by ATC, and remain in two-way radio communications with ATC while in the TFR. ATC shall immediately be notified of any transponder failure and ATC will provide the most direct course to exit the TFR.

Fractional and charter operators are advised to plan accordingly and check notams on a continous basis, as the airspace restrictions may change without much notice.