Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 6; Flight Crew Total 500; Flight Crew Type 380
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Confusion; Distraction
Airspace Violation All Types
Airspace Structure; Human Factors
After checking for weather conditions and NOTAMs at the four airports on my route of flight I departed DYB airport (Summerville; SC) for a trip that would take us around the CHS (Charleston) Class C airspace. None of the airports reported a TFR affecting them at the time I departed my home. When I arrived at the airport; I preflight the aircraft and checked the FBO weather station computer for any last minute weather; etc. However; the weather computer was turned off in the unmanned FBO. I flew my hour long flight outside Charleston's airspace only to find upon landing that I had violated a presidential TFR. I should have called FSS; prior to departing for my flight. Better notification of TFR's; perhaps within AWOS/ATIS; which I did monitor for each airport I flew in the vicinity of would have been helpful in preventing this mistake. Also; unlike something as obvious as an arena or sporting event; a small; unpopulated island is not a place you would necessarily think of for such a TFR; so public knowledge of such a place and its use would also be helpful. I'm new to the area; and have done most of my flying in Central Florida; where the Class B airspace; as well as the ever present Kennedy Space Center/ Cape Canaveral Missile Range is a well known restricted area. Charleston could really benefit from some more open disclosure of its unique airspace issues; but the General Aviation community is very small here; and getting the word out is not easy. I often find that I'm the only one flying at my local airport.
Pilot reports of violating a Presidential TFR in an area where he is not that familiar.