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(July 29) -- For those who've gone seriously gaga over the Chelsea Clinton wedding and were planning on joining the festivities via aircraft, you may want to consider other wedding-crashing strategies. On top of all the Clinton wedding hoopla, there's another (more serious) issue with government security that is being addressed: the sky.
For a short while this weekend, certain air space around Astor Courts in Rhinebeck, N.Y., will be closely monitored by the government. You may already think the fuss over Chelsea Clinton's nuptials to Marc Mezvinsky have gone above and beyond (pun intended) the ludicrous, but we believe the hype and rumor storm that have been taking over newsrooms will be nothing compared with the press coverage during and immediately following the event.
As avid Clinton fans (and the news media, of course) count down the final hours until Saturday's secretive ceremony, Surge Desk answers your questions about the latest bit of hot Chelsea wedding gossip: airspace security and restrictions.
When can airspace closings be ordered?
The Federal Aviation Administration often bans air travel when there is likely to be enough air traffic to pose a safety risk, The New York Times reported.
Who can request them?
Government officials may request an airspace ban. In this case, the Secret Service asked for the ban due to Hillary Rodham Clinton being secretary of state and Bill Clinton a former president, an FAA spokesman said.
Why did the FAA issue a flight ban?
The FAA says the temporary flight restrictions are for the VIP (Very Important Person) movement. The ban is placed in hopes of deterring the news media or paparazzi from documenting the celebration via hovering aircraft. FAA spokesman Jim Peters said decisions to restrict air space are made in consultation with other federal agencies.
Who's in charge of guarding the airspace during the event?
The FAA has issued a no-fly ban during the wedding. It is enforcing the ban from 3 p.m. Saturday to 3:30 a.m. Sunday, for flights below 2,000 feet for the area where the event will be taking place. The restrictions are that pilots can't operate an aircraft in the specified areas. The following are exceptions: IFR arrivals or departures to and from airports within TFR; military, law enforcement, fire fighting and MEDEVAC aircraft; and aircraft needed for safety or emergency purposes.
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