Fly Over the Boston Marathon

[corcoran]

Today April 17, 2023 is Boston Marathon Day and the flying STINKS! 

This is the annual fly-in where we meet in the air. In this case it's 1,400' over Hopkinton, Massachusetts. But not today! We had hoped to see all 35,000 runners at the start and fly most of the entire route to Boston. It's low IFR.

1/4 mile visibility in fog at some places. Clouds below 200'. And 40 degrees F. Rainy. 

Let's plan on next year because this is a really fun event... officially 26.2 miles long.

 

[mdunlevie]

Tom, don't smash me too hard for not knowing about this, but isn't there a TFR over the race today? FDC 3/1454 shows up.  So either I don't know where the race is or your flight is over the to of the TFR and in the Class Bravo...?  https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_1453.html

 

[kamwings]

mdunlevie said
Tom, don't smash me too hard for not knowing about this, but isn't there a TFR over the race today? FDC 3/1454 shows up.  So either I don't know where the race is or your flight is over the to of the TFR and in the Class Bravo...?  https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_1453.html

  

That seems to apply only to unmanned aircraft.  Although TBH, I'm surprised they allow any flight operations over the marathon without a special permit (for media helicopters).  

 

[corcoran]

Mike Dunlevie,

I would never smash you for anything. I am at sea level and my smash would have no effect on a Bonanza pilot operating at (was it?) 6,000'+ in Colorado.

The facts are that... there was a NOTAM describing a TFR over the Boston Marathon today. However, it was for drones operating at relatively low altitudes. Aircraft like my Sundowner was not effected. This might have been my 20th time over the race... if the weather was any good. Note: The TV networks pay plenty for the right to stream the race. They do not want competition from Facebook Live. The authorities do not want any explosives over the 26.2 miles either.

In the old days I had to go to a special meeting at the FAA office to get a briefing on protocol for flying over the event. No such meeting or agreement on frequencies, altitudes, routes has been held for a couple of years. So, if you ask me, it is the "cluster of clusters" and may the best pilot win!

Outrageous fun!

Tom