General Aviation

The Airspace Authorizations Office manages the process of aircraft operators who request to enter areas of restricted airspace. Pilots should read all applicable Notice to Airmen and contact their local Flight Service Station prior to flight operations. It is the pilot’s responsibility to ensure proper authorization from TSA and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prior to starting flight operations.

You can contact the Airspace Authorization Office during normal business hours at (571) 227-2071.

Apply

Waiver requests may be submitted online via the FAA/TSA Airspace Access Program, and must be submitted no later than five business days in advance of the flight. In certain cases, applicants may be advised that extra time is required for review.

Applicants will be asked to provide full name, social security number, date of birth, place of birth, passport number and passport country as well as the start and end dates of the flight. For applications for aircraft operating within the United States, the waiver review process includes an evaluation of the aircraft, crew, passengers and purpose of flight. A flight itinerary must be provided for single trip and no transponder waivers.

Eligibility

TSA provides a recommendation of approval or denial to the FAA Office of System Operations Security. If you are determined to be eligible for a waiver, you will be notified and provided with a unique waiver authorization. Pilots must possess a copy of the waiver when filing a flight plan and during flight operations.

Types of Waivers

Disney Theme Parks

Disney Theme Park waivers permit flight operations within the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) areas established for Disneyland and Disney World Theme Parks. Applicants must provide a letter of verification from the relevant park verifying that the waiver is for an operational function of the venue. The letter must identify the pilot's name, business and aircraft registration number along with the venue location, and event name and date.

Major Sporting Events

Sporting event waivers permit flight operations within the temporary flight restricted airspace established for National Football League, Major League Baseball, NCAA Division I Football, NASCAR Series main events races and INDY Racing League main event races occurring in stadiums with a seating capacity of 30,000 or more. Sporting Events Waivers are event-specific. Each approved waiver will specify the name, dates and location of the specific sporting event over which the pilot will be authorized to fly.

For additional information pertaining to each waiver type, please visit FAA Notice to Airmen.

Special Events

Special Event Waivers permit authorized flight operations within the temporary flight restricted airspace established for special events. Examples of special events might include political party conventions or other National Special Security Events that take place outside of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., Flight Restricted Zone for Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)

Pilots requesting permission to fly unmanned aircraft in the Flight Restricted Zone must submit an online waiver application. The application must be accompanied by a letter or contract specifying the purpose and scope of the work to be completed. UAS waiver applications should be submitted no later than ten business days in advance of the flight. Reference the following link to view full details of the application requirements: UAS FRZ Waiver Applicants TSA Guidelines. The Washington, D.C. Special Flight Rules Area and Flight Restricted Zone are described in 14 CFR Part 93 Subpart V and supplemented by FAA Notice to Airmen as required.

Washington, D.C., Special Flight Rules Area and Flight Restricted Zone

Pilots requesting permission to fly aircraft into the Washington, D.C. Flight Restricted Zone, including operations to or from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Joint Base Andrews, and Davison Army Air Field, must submit an online waiver application. In some instances, the application must be accompanied by a letter or contract specifying the purpose and scope of the work to be completed. The Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area and Flight Restricted Zone are described in 14 CFR Part 93 Subpart V and supplemented by FAA Notice to Airmen as required.  As of April 2018, the effective notice is FDC NOTAM 8/3032, March 15, 2018.

International Waivers

International waivers authorize aircraft operators to operate to/from, within and over the airspace of the United States and its territorial possessions. No transponder waivers authorize visual flight rules operations to/from and within the airspace of the United States without an operating encoding transponder.

Types of International Waivers

International Air Ambulance (INA)

International air ambulance waivers authorize aircraft operators to operate over and within the airspace of the United States and its territorial possessions. This waiver may be granted to individual pilots, companies and organizations applying for single day or multiple day flights involving one or more aircraft. Ownership information of aircraft is required. All persons, including patient(s) who may be onboard during waiver period must be included in the original request.

No Transponder Waivers

No transponder waivers authorize visual flight rules operations within the airspace of the United States without an operating encoding transponder. Ownership information of aircraft is required. All persons who may be onboard during waiver period must be included on original request. No transponder waivers are issued for a maximum 90 days.

Single Trip Waivers

International single trip waivers authorize aircraft operators to operate over and within the airspace of the United States and its territorial possessions. This waiver may be granted to individual pilots, companies and organizations applying for single day or multiple day flights involving one or more aircraft. Ownership information of aircraft is required. All persons who may be onboard during waiver period must be included in the original request. These waivers can be issued for a maximum 90 days.

To conduct flights into and out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), all general aviation aircraft operators are required to follow security measures set forth in the DCA Access Standard Security Program. Additionally, all unscheduled general aviation operations to and from DCA require a Federal Aviation Administration slot reservation. Please obtain the reservation through the Federal Aviation Administration Computer Voice Reservation System.

To apply or inquire about the program, please email us or fax your application to (703) 603-4030.

If you have specific questions on TSA flight authorizations, please call (571) 227-2071.

The Maryland-Three Program allows private pilots to fly to, from and between the three general aviation airports closest to the National Capital Region, which include College Park Airport, Potomac Airfield and Washington Executive Airport/Hyde Field. These airports are within the Washington, D.C. Special Flight Rules area and the Flight Restricted Zone as described in 14 CFR Part 93 Subpart V. Pilots must request a personal identification number to fly to or from any of the Maryland-Three Program airports.

For more information about the Maryland-Three Program, please email your inquiry.

The General Aviation Security Guidelines were developed jointly by the General Aviation (GA) community and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The guidelines provide GA stakeholders recommendations that address general aviation security concepts, technologies, and enhancements. Stakeholders include airport owners, operators, sponsors, and entities that oversee GA landing facilities, including tenants and/or users. The document provides risk-based security best practices, along with approaches for determining when and where these enhancements would be appropriate.