US President Joe Biden will visit Ireland this week. In preparation for the visit, the IAA has warned pilots to be aware of short-notice Temporary Restricted Areas (TRAs) that may be established in relation to the visit. In a statement, the IAA said: “Due to a planned State security operation, temporary restricted areas (TRAs) of airspace will be required to be put in place within the Shannon FIR during the week commencing the 10th of April 2023. No confirmed information is available at this time. Final details of such TRAs will be promulgated by NOTAM, and separately on this website as soon as possible. Pilots and operators of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS as defined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 and S.I. No. 24 of 2023), should check in advance for this information prior to undertaking any flights within the Shannon FIR during the indicated time period to ensure they do not infringe any of these TRAs.”
Mr Biden will fly into Belfast on Tuesday (April 11th) and then travel to Dublin on Wednesday afternoon with a planned stop-off in Dundalk. He will spend the day in Dublin on Thursday before travelling to Ballina, Co. Mayo on Friday. It’s not clear whether he will depart for the US immediately after or on Saturday morning. Any airspace restrictions are likely to be in the vicinity of these areas. During the last US Presidential visit, Gardaí visited many local GA Aerodromes around the country that were in the vicinity of the “Marine One” flight paths advising them not to operate on certain days. Several US military aircraft have already arrived in the country in advance of the visit.
A NOTAM for Dublin Airport has already been issued advising operators of possible delays in relation to the visit: “DUE TO A PLANNED STATE SECURITY OPERATION AT DUBLIN AIRPORT ON WEDNESDAY 12TH AND FRIDAY 14TH OF APRIL, ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DELAYS OF UP TO 45 MINUTES MAY BE EXPECTED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS ON BOTH DAYS. EXACT TIMINGS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, HOWEVER FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE DISSEMINATED BEFORE THE 12TH OF APRIL. AIR TRAFFIC FLOW MANAGEMENT PROCESSES ARE LIKELY TO BE INITIATED TO ENSURE THAT ATC SECTOR CAPACITY LIMITS ARE MAINTAINED. ALL AGENCIES WILL CONTINUE TO COORDINATE TO ENSURE THAT ANY DELAY IS KEPT TO A MINIMUM.”
