Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 278; Flight Crew Type 200
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airport; Airspace Structure; Procedure
The TFR in place at Bedminster; New Jersey places airport 47N within the 30NM ring. This; of course; requires pilots to be on an IFR flight plan or have a VFR flight plan on file; and have a transponder code and communication with ATC. For those of us who operate at this airport; we have been told by ATC that we are unable to depart IFR; unless able to climb in VMC to the Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA) of 2000 ft. We have been told that the reason for this is that SBJ VOR is the only IFR departure fix that has been flight tested for this airport and SBJ is within the 10NM 'no fly' ring of the TFR. This restriction is causing undue burden on the pilots wishing or needing to depart in IFR conditions from 47N. This restriction is effectively denying access to the flying public from using their own tax-payer-funded public ATC system. With the vagaries of weather reporting; this restriction is potentially encouraging unsafe practices by encouraging pilots to depart in marginal conditions in order to pick up and continue on their IFR flight plan. Anecdotally; I understand that there are other nearby non-towered airports where this same problem exists. The solution to this is to flight test one or more additional departure fixes that lie outside the 10NM TFR ring.
Pilot reported difficulties in resolving airspace conflicts with a TFR which overlies airport 47N.