Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 55; Flight Crew Total 22000
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Procedure
I wish to point out an extremely dangerous situation that has developed at 9I0 (Havana; IL) during military UAV operations. Twice this year we (9I0) hosted a military UAV operation. All is OK except for the NOTAM that goes out to the aviation public. Following are the NOTAMs available on DUATS for the operation :9I0 HAVANA RGNL !IKK 09/058 9I0 RWY WORK IN PROGRESS UNMANNED ACFT OPERATIONS SEE ZAU 09/056 !IKK 09/057 9I0 AIRSPACE SEE ZAU 09/056 UNMANNED ACFT. Pilots are taught to access DUATS for official information and data critical to flight. The above looks benign enough except that one has no idea what 'ZAU 09/056' is! If you do a search on DUATS it says 'Unknown.' So what does this mean; can I fly there or not? Looks OK just need to be a little more alert. I called FSS and got the following from the Briefer: 'You need to access the Chicago Airspace NOTAM's on the FAA web site.' OK. What does that say? It says: ZAU CHICAGO (ARTCC);IL. !IKK 09/056 ZAU AIRSPACE UNMANNED ACFT 3 NMR 9I0 3500/BLW. Briefer says; 'Looks advisory to me.' The military erects two barrier fences to 'capture' the UAVs; if necessary; on the 2;500 FT grass strip during the entire operation. The runway is definitely UNUSABLE. I have two issues with the above. One; all the information should be in DUATS. That is the hallmark of DUATS. Two; the runway and indeed the airspace was unusable to the aviation public. Why is this not emphatically conveyed in the NOTAM? As a footnote I wish to point out that the local airport users and the military have worked together to provide a valuable activity for our national interests. The operation is very valuable; and was a success. I think the fact that two of the local pilots took it upon themselves to call the surrounding small airports and advise them of the runway status has prevented any incidents.
Local pilot reports that 9I0 ocasionally hosts military UAV operations; but the NOTAMs that are issued are very obtuse and do not convey the fact that the airport is closed along with the airspace above.