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[Ed Note: The linked article comes from Wired. They are notorious for their adblocker blocking to keep you from reading the site without viewing the ads. It worked for me, but YMMV. - cmn32480]
You're a private pilot, out on a Sunday jaunt in your single engine prop plane. Lovely day for a flight—calm skies, good weather. Then you hear, feel, and then see the fast approach of two, grey, angular military jets, flying terrifyingly close to you, most definitely armed and dangerous.
What have you done? More pressing, what do you do? Chances are, you've strayed into restricted airspace, like the no fly zones put in place to protect President Trump wherever he goes, or special events, like this weekend's Super Bowl.
For the big game, the no-fly zone banishes planes (and drones, the FAA is keen to stress) straying within 34.5 miles of NRG stadium, in downtown Houston. If pilots feel they must enter the outer edge of the perimeter, they need permission from controllers, and are asked to maintain constant contact. The 10-mile core is strictly no entry.
OK, back to those menacing fighter jets, one of which is now level with you, where you can see each other. Hopefully, as a pilot, you've read and memorized your in-flight intercept procedures (even if you didn't bother to check the FAA website for no-fly zones in your area), because they're your best bet for keeping a lot of airspace between you and a missile.
The full article at Wired discusses the steps taken by pilots on both sides of such a situation.
(Score: 2) by KilroySmith on Monday February 06 2017, @04:31PM
Yes, you're required to obey current NOTAMs. No, you're not required to monitor the radio - specifically, aircraft not originally equipped with an electrical system are exempt from any radio requirements. This may sound like pre-WWII aircraft to you, but it also include sailplanes, ultralights, and the like.
I've legally flown my hang glider to 18,000 feet MSL, and 150 miles cross country, with no radio (well, no aircraft band radio). The sailplane pilots from Phoenix will routinely launch, fly to the Grand Canyon and back in an afternoon (roughly 200 miles each way).
(Score: 2) by morpheus on Monday February 06 2017, @07:41PM
Of course you meant you flew at (or below) 17999 feet to avoid class A airspace and used oxygen (is there a place to attach an oxygen bottle on a hanglider? who knew) :)
(Score: 2) by KilroySmith on Monday February 06 2017, @09:38PM
I was only using two significant figures on the flight altitude. Let's interpret that as meaning "below 18000 feet".
And, yes, portable oxygen bottles are used, generally placed in/on the harness. An hours worth is generally good enough for a 6 to 8 hour flight, as most of the flight ends up being below FAA requirements for flight crew oxygen needs.