Government Shutdown Impacts on Airports and Airspace

In response to ongoing controller staffing issues, the FAA has, by NOTAM, restricted most general aviation and non-scheduled operations at 12 airports. The airports affected are ORD, DFW, DEN, BOS, IAH, ATL, JFK, LAX, EWR, PHX, DCA, and SEA. Each airport has an individual NOTAM, all with the same wording. The NOTAMs provide exceptions for aircraft based at those individual airports, as well as emergency, medical, law enforcement, firefighting, military, and flights specially authorized by the FAA. Contact information is provided in the NOTAM for those requesting special authorization. These NOTAMs only impact operations at the designated airports and not the surrounding airspace.  

Pilots are reminded that the FAA’s order warning of the potential for the termination of ATC services to VFR aircraft to address controller staffing issues is still in effect. EAA is also cautioning members that other ATC services could be impacted, with some high-volume areas not authorizing practice instrument approaches, and others limiting touch-and-goes. Pilots should check NOTAMs regularly and before each flight, proactively plan alternatives, and be prepared when flying through any high-traffic areas.

EAA and the general aviation community are advocating for these restrictions to end as soon as possible as the government shutdown comes to a close and operations stabilize.