INSTRUCTOR PLT; WITH STUDENT; IN A CESSNA 172 CONDUCTED TURNS ABOUT A POINT AND PYLON EIGHTS OVER A WATER TOWER ADJACENT TO A PUBLIC RESERVOIR AND DAM CONTRARY TO THE RESTRS IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY NOTAM.
Synopsis
INSTRUCTOR PLT; WITH STUDENT; IN A CESSNA 172 CONDUCTED TURNS ABOUT A POINT AND PYLON EIGHTS OVER A WATER TOWER ADJACENT TO A PUBLIC RESERVOIR AND DAM CONTRARY TO THE RESTRS IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY NOTAM.
Narrative
11 NM FROM THE 110 DEG RADIAL SAX (SPARTA) VOR; IN THE VICINITY OF WANAQUE; NJ RESERVOIR; OUTSIDE OF THE 'ENHANCED CLASS B AIRSPACE.' I WAS CONDUCTING A VFR FLT TRAINING OP WITH A STUDENT PLT. I CHECKED STANDARD WX BRIEFING VIA COMMERCIAL WX BRIEFING FOR THE ARPT VICINITY. PRIOR TO DEP FROM THE ARPT; I CONTACTED FLT SVC (MILLVILLE; NJ) TO OBTAIN CLARIFICATION OF 'ENHANCED CLASS B AIRSPACE' DEPS AND ARRIVALS; FROM/INTO N07 (LINCOLN PARK; NJ). DEPARTED N07 AND HEADED IN A NW DIRECTION FOR APPROX 10 NM. DUE TO TERRAIN AND POSSIBLE LOW CLOUD CEILING AHEAD OF THE PLANNED ROUTE; I TURNED TO AN E HDG. A LAKE WITH A WATER TANK (AND A DAM NEARBY) WAS USED TO DEMONSTRATE 'TURNS AROUND A POINT' VFR MANEUVER AT 1500 FT MSL. AFTER SEVERAL TURNS IN THE VICINITY; I HEADED BACK TO N07 FOR PATTERN WORK. I DID NOTICE A WHITE CAR (MOST LIKELY A LOCAL POLICE CAR) PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAM. UPON LANDING; I WAS INFORMED OF DEV FROM THE GENERAL FDC NOTAM 1/0617; PART 2 OF 8; PART II (09/THURS/01): 'PLT SHOULD NOT CIRCLE AS TO LOITER IN THE VICINITY OF SUCH FACILITIES (DAMS).' HOW THE PROB AROSE: SINCE THE WORLD TRADE CTR TRAGEDY; NUMEROUS NOTAMS HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND AMENDED DAILY AFTER 09/TUES/01. AFTER THE INCIDENT; I HAVE PROCURED A COPY OF ALL THE NOTAMS; FDC NOTAMS; AND GENERAL FDC NOTAMS FOR THE DAY - IT COMES OUT TO 20 PAGES. I DID NOT REVIEW ALL OF THE NOTAMS (NOTAMS; FDC NOTAMS; GENERAL FDC NOTAMS) COMPREHENSIVELY PRIOR TO FLT. I ALSO DID NOT ASK FOR ALL NOTAMS ASSOCIATED WITH GENERAL AVIATION FLTS WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE FLT BRIEFER. I DID; HOWEVER; REVIEW NOTAMS AND FDC NOTAMS PROCURED FROM COMMERCIAL WX BRIEFING. TO PREVENT FUTURE INCIDENTS: COMPLETE REVIEW OF ALL NOTAMS INCLUDING GENERAL FDC NOTAMS. SORT OUT THE INFO THAT IS RELEVANT TO PART 91 OPS. SET DUATS TO DEFAULT TO DIVULGING EVERYTHING ('OPTIONAL COMPONENTS' LIST) FOR STANDARD WX BRIEFINGS. MY QUESTION IS; FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT COMPUTER SAVVY AND MUST RELY ON BRIEFINGS FROM FLT SVC STATIONS VIA TELEPHONE; WOULD THEY HAVE OBTAINED THIS PARTICULAR NOTAM? WILL THE FLT BRIEFER SPEND 30 MINS READING OFF EVERY SINGLE NOTAM? IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF EVERY CALLER WANTED AL THIS INFO. IN TIMES LIKE THESE; WHEN INFO IS BEING UPDATED AND CHANGED ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS; A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT (WEBSITE; FOR INSTANCE) SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THIS INFO IN A FORM THAT IS EASY TO READ; UNDERSTAND; DISSEMINATE; AND OBTAIN. I WILL NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE AGAIN - I WILL MAKE A POINT TO READ EVERY SINGLE NOTAM THAT IS POSTED BY THE FAA BEFORE THE FIRST FLT OF THE DAY.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.