May 29, 2025
As the summer season kicks off, NBAA strongly encourages all operators flying in the Northeast, especially the New York metro area, to be prepared for the air traffic impacts associated with frequent presidential TFRs (POTUS TFRs) for Bedminster, NJ.
These TFRs will have two identical NOTAMs published as the TFR spans two Air Route Traffic Control Centers – New York (ZNY) and Washington DC (ZDC).
Presidential TFRs are typically composed of two separate rings. The smaller inner ring normally has a 10-12 nautical mile radius that typically extends from the surface to 17,999 MSL. The second, outer ring, generally extends out to 30 nautical miles and has restrictions between the inner ring and the outer boundary.
For the Bedminster TFRs, the inner ring prohibits general aviation aircraft from transiting the airspace to include operations at Somerset Airport (SMQ) and Solberg/Hunterdon Airport (N51) for the duration of the TFR. The outer ring has additional restrictions; however, aircraft may transit the area if they are squawking a discrete beacon code and talking with air traffic control.
Additionally, there are cutouts for operations at several airports to include Greenwood Lake Airport (4N1), Sussex Airport (FWN), Elephant Path Airport (PS03), Doylestown Airport (DYL), Trenton Mercer Airport (TTN) and Trenton-Robbinsville Airport (N87).
The POTUS TFRs will also impact Morristown Airport (MMU) and the surrounding area during POTUS arrivals and departures at MMU. During POTUS MMU TFRs, MMU and Essex County Airport (CDW) will be unavailable for arrivals and departures.
Teterboro Airport (TEB) and Newark International Airport (EWR) will largely be unaffected, other than receiving reroutes around a 10 NM ring surrounding MMU. Due to the proximity of that ring to EWR, departures from Runway 29 and arrivals to Runway 11 will likely not be permitted at EWR. This will only be impactful if wind direction requires single runway operations on Runway 11/29.
In addition to airport impacts, there will be several required reroutes published for aircraft to avoid the TFR boundaries and associated fighter Combat Air Patrol (CAP) which may include the following:
- PHL TO ZBW CZU ZEU
- ZBW CZU TO ZDC
- WEST TO ZBW
- SOUTH TO ZBW
- GA TO EWR AND SATS MODIFIED
All associated reroutes can be found on the FAA Advisories and Reroutes pages which can be found through the National Airspace Systems Status page.
For aircraft departures, the TFR closes all west gates/fixes out of EWR and the satellite airports (TEB/MMU/CDW). Operators can expect air traffic control to tactically reroute them to other departure fixes. For those departing from Westchester County Airport (HPN), all west departure fixes are closed except for NEWEL.
NBAA reminds operators that it’s critical to check NOTAMs, as information can change at any time.
“As we approach the summer months, it’s important for pilots to keep eye out for TFRs related to presidential movements to his Bedminster, NY, residence. TFR notices can be found on the FAA TFR webpage and NBAA’s VIP 91.141 TFR NOTAM Impact Statements page,” said Janice Planten, manager of NBAA’s Air Traffic Services team. “It’s also important to note that when the president is traveling to Bedminster, NJ, he will likely be flying in and out of Morristown Airport (MMU), which will prohibit operations at MMU and Essex County Airport (CDW).”
All schedulers, dispatchers, pilots and others involved in flight operations should subscribe to NBAA’s Airspace/Airport Alerts, which include graphical depictions of TFRs, including the POTUS TFR NOTAMs.
NBAA will be hosting a session to discuss POTUS TFRs and other critical airspace issues at the upcoming NBAA White Plains Regional Forum on June 4, 2025. There, Planten and other experts from NBAA’s Air Traffic Services will share how these TFRs, the move of controllers to the Philadelphia TRACON and recent air traffic management disruptions, impact business aircraft operations.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.