Alaska News

Anchorage flight restrictions Friday accompany Obama’s return from Asia

Air Force One will stop at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to refuel Friday morning as President Barack Obama returns from a trip to Asia, bringing temporary flight restrictions to the Anchorage area as he passes through.

The Federal Aviation Administration advisory on the restrictions, which will be in effect from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, matches restrictions that grounded some Anchorage flights Saturday when Obama was en route to Asia for a G7 summit in Japan and an expected visit to Hiroshima.

During the restriction, an inner ring covering a 7-nautical-mile radius around Anchorage will be closed to other aircraft except for law enforcement flights, military aircraft flying in support of the Secret Service, air ambulance flights with prior approval, and scheduled passenger and cargo commercial flights.

Beyond that, aircraft in an outer ring covering a 30-nautical-mile radius around Anchorage will be restricted to flights arriving or departing from local airports, with "loitering" prohibited. Pilots will have to file a flight plan and remain in contact with air traffic controllers using codes the controllers designate.

A variety of other operations, including flightseeing, seaplane, ultralight and training flights, as well as the use of drone aircraft, will be prohibited within both the inner and outer rings.

Chris Klint

Chris Klint is a former ADN reporter who covered breaking news.

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