Commercial planes and Disney airspace

[WEDWDW]

Don't know how high we were,but flew right over the Showcase and Crescent Lake on Southwest-very cool.

 

[AngiTN]

It was 4 jets flying over espn during the invictus opening ceremony and they didn't go into the no fly zone. They are rather loud though so it would have sounded closer.

No, I didn't just hear the airplane I saw the airplane with my own two eyes. Right over the top of Splash and Big Thunder. No idea if that's the no fly zone, I just assumed it was. But I promise it wasn't just something I heard. CM started running out to see what it was.
I was underneath where it flew over as I walked out of Splash. The aircraft was huge, not jets, and quite low. I didn't see the tail markings so I wasn't sure if it was commercial or military. Makes perfect sense it was military but I can assure you, it was not just over ESPN

I used to live at Barber's Point in HI and I am very familiar with aircraft flying overhead being underneath them. Our house was under the flight path for all planes landing at Hickam. This was as loud and as close as those planes. It reminded me most of a C130 going overhead

 

[Accident]

No, I didn't just hear the airplane I saw the airplane with my own two eyes. Right over the top of Splash and Big Thunder. No idea if that's the no fly zone, I just assumed it was. But I promise it wasn't just something I heard. CM started running out to see what it was.
I was underneath where it flew over as I walked out of Splash. The aircraft was huge, not jets, and quite low. I didn't see the tail markings so I wasn't sure if it was commercial or military. Makes perfect sense it was military but I can assure you, it was not just over ESPN

Interesting. i'm also used to to planes going overhead at low altitudes from where I last lived so it would have caught my attention if I was there. I was at my house that night but I did see the jets line up and head towards espn overhead.

I'll let someone with pilot experience comment, I know there is a few on here that are knowledgeable about the no fly zones.

 

[zaccaglin]

No, I didn't just hear the airplane I saw the airplane with my own two eyes. Right over the top of Splash and Big Thunder. No idea if that's the no fly zone, I just assumed it was. But I promise it wasn't just something I heard. CM started running out to see what it was.
I was underneath where it flew over as I walked out of Splash. The aircraft was huge, not jets, and quite low. I didn't see the tail markings so I wasn't sure if it was commercial or military. Makes perfect sense it was military but I can assure you, it was not just over ESPN

I used to live at Barber's Point in HI and I am very familiar with aircraft flying overhead being underneath them. Our house was under the flight path for all planes landing at Hickam. This was as loud and as close as those planes. It reminded me most of a C130 going overhead

As I already stated in the thread the planes flew over ESPN then continued north towards MK. When approaching MK they stayed to the West Side of the Berm, the no fly zone incudes the areas within the berm, and some outside of it at MK only. Slash Mtn is located right on the edge of the MK berm. If you only saw only one plane, you may have only seen it as they broke formation, signature of a Blue Angels fly over. They're flyover at ESPN was at 8pm, they flew over the Poly where I was on the monorail station just after 8pm. Otherwise there wouldn't have been any other reason for any jets to fly that close over property. Even for all the "celebrities" here, there wouldn't any reason for a low flying jet for there is no active airstrip on or near property.

 

[Polydweller]

They consistently let you in... As long as you have a legit reason for being there.

Not really. Disney applied to use drones in the no fly zone for night time shows over MK. They were denied. Aircraft can look like they are in the no fly zone but are actually outside the 3 mile radius.

 

[Huff]

Not really. Disney applied to use drones in the no fly zone for night time shows over MK. They were denied. Aircraft can look like they are in the no fly zone but are actually outside the 3 mile radius.

The no fly zone has a ceiling of only 3,000' AGL meaning aircraft can fly directly over WDW if they are more than 3000' above ground.

 

[Polydweller]

The no fly zone has a ceiling of only 3,000' AGL meaning aircraft can fly directly over WDW if they are more than 3000' above ground.

Yep, you're right and I should have added that. That's another reason why people can think aircraft are in the no fly zone when they really aren't. And, when even the property owner can't get permission to enter it we know it's rigidly enforced.

 

[DanInMN]

I am a pilot and aircraft owner. I have flown my family from Minnesota to the Kissimmee airport (KISM) several times. The published instrument approaches to runway 15 takes us over the Magic Kingdom at 2000 feet. On my last visual arrival I was talking with Orlando approach control and they asked if we wanted to fly over WDW, which we did! There is no vetting, paperwork, or advanced reservation involved.

WDW obtained the rather permanent "temporary" flight restriction under the guise of safety from terrorists. However the real reason was to prevent sightseeing operators from annoying WDW guests. A plane can legally approach the area, then head to the center in seconds. AFAIK there are no anti-aircraft missiles in the castle. "Security theater" is an appropriate description.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I am a pilot and aircraft owner. I have flown my family from Minnesota to the Kissimmee airport (KISM) several times. The published instrument approaches to runway 15 takes us over the Magic Kingdom at 2000 feet. On my last visual arrival I was talking with Orlando approach control and they asked if we wanted to fly over WDW, which we did! There is no vetting, paperwork, or advanced reservation involved.

WDW obtained the rather permanent "temporary" flight restriction under the guise of safety from terrorists. However the real reason was to prevent sightseeing operators from annoying WDW guests. A plane can legally approach the area, then head to the center in seconds. AFAIK there are no anti-aircraft missiles in the castle. "Security theater" is an appropriate description.

I agree with much of your statement, but not all. Indeed if you're talking with Orlando tracon, and have purpose, there is little problem with flying in the TFR.

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Not really. Disney applied to use drones in the no fly zone for night time shows over MK. They were denied. Aircraft can look like they are in the no fly zone but are actually outside the 3 mile radius.

Trust me. Airplanes fly through the TFR with little resistance. I've done it dozens, if not hundreds of times.

MG

 

[Huff]

Disney got the restrictions in place for security reasons legally but I'm sure it was to keep out banner towing planes flying low over the parks and sight seeing general aviation. I would hate to see the banners overhead.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Disney got the restrictions in place for security reasons legally but I'm sure it was to keep out banner towing planes flying low over the parks and sight seeing general aviation. I would hate to see the banners overhead.

Probably yes.... And I agree, I hated the banners....

 

[dfb]

TFRs identify restricted airspace. You cannot legally fly into the TFR without ATC authorization. If you do you will have violated the Federal Aviation regulations and face certificate suspension. TFRs are not no fly zones, they are simply restricted, requiring permission to enter. I fly air EMS and fly into TFRs, with permission, all the time. So do police, military etc. If you are in a general aviation and want to fly over WDW- a want is not a need - or if you are on approach into an airport, some controllers will allow you to fly closer but not normally over at low altitudes. This will depend on the controller, some are more liberal than others.

TFRs are used in many places. When the President visits city to attend an event a TFR is used at the airport he lands, at the location of the event he is attending and at the airport when he departs and effective only during those times. TFRs are established permanently over sports stadiums that normally have over 30000 visitors but are only effective one hour before and one hour after the event. TFRs are used in many place when there's a need to restrict air traffic. Air crashes, natural disasters, events or places that involve a large gathering of people (WDW!!) or required aircraft (forest fires).

The tour helicopters usually fly specific canned routes, for economic, legal and safety reasons. I don't know if ATC would allow them to enter in TFR but if they did it would be limited. I know I usually see them all around HS which is about the 3 mile mark of the TFR???

TFRs will not stop a terrorist from flying into the castle, there are no F-16s patrolling the border of every TFR. TFRs do restrict air traffic in specific areas and aircraft are not normally allowed to fly directly over at low altitude a collected large group of people(as described in AngiTNs post). Are there circumstances where this could happen? Yes, but how often, consistently, effortlessly just depends. AngiTN, as most of us, has been to WDW often enough to know that what she described doesn't consistently happen and I'm sure she knows what a large commercial jet looks like, although a C130 is not a turbojet aircraft but is a turboprop aircraft.

Sorry about the TFR lesson.

 

[AngiTN]

I actually find all this fascinating. So I'm glad folks have been explaining how it works at or around Disney.
I always figured they wanted to restrict aircraft not only to prevent sightseeing or banner flights but to maintain the atmosphere they are trying to create in the parks. A plane flying overhead would kill the magic in Fantasy Land, for example
As for what the plane looked like, I am far from an expert on aircraft but I can tell the difference from a jet like an F16 and a large aircraft like something a commercial airline flies or even bigger like a C130. They only came to mind after I remembered what it sounded like when those planes flew over our house in Hawaii. The were so low they made our pictures rattle on the walls. And they always seemed to be moving so slow in the sky. The speed and the rumble I heard was really similar to that. Since the Invictus Games didn't come to mind at that moment I thought commercial vs. military. But now I'm sure it was a military aircraft of some sort. And I'm sure it did have clearance/permission to fly where it did

 

[Maistre Gracey]

TFRs identify restricted airspace. You cannot legally fly into the TFR without ATC authorization. If you do you will have violated the Federal Aviation regulations and face certificate suspension. TFRs are not no fly zones, they are simply restricted, requiring permission to enter. I fly air EMS and fly into TFRs, with permission, all the time. So do police, military etc. If you are in a general aviation and want to fly over WDW- a want is not a need - or if you are on approach into an airport, some controllers will allow you to fly closer but not normally over at low altitudes. This will depend on the controller, some are more liberal than others.

TFRs are used in many places. When the President visits city to attend an event a TFR is used at the airport he lands, at the location of the event he is attending and at the airport when he departs and effective only during those times. TFRs are established permanently over sports stadiums that normally have over 30000 visitors but are only effective one hour before and one hour after the event. TFRs are used in many place when there's a need to restrict air traffic. Air crashes, natural disasters, events or places that involve a large gathering of people (WDW!!) or required aircraft (forest fires).

The tour helicopters usually fly specific canned routes, for economic, legal and safety reasons. I don't know if ATC would allow them to enter in TFR but if they did it would be limited. I know I usually see them all around HS which is about the 3 mile mark of the TFR???

TFRs will not stop a terrorist from flying into the castle, there are no F-16s patrolling the border of every TFR. TFRs do restrict air traffic in specific areas and aircraft are not normally allowed to fly directly over at low altitude a collected large group of people(as described in AngiTNs post). Are there circumstances where this could happen? Yes, but how often, consistently, effortlessly just depends. AngiTN, as most of us, has been to WDW often enough to know that what she described doesn't consistently happen and I'm sure she knows what a large commercial jet looks like, although a C130 is not a turbojet aircraft but is a turboprop aircraft.

Sorry about the TFR lesson.

Lol!!! Sorry about the TFR lesson??
Just who do you think you are speaking to??
It's one of two groups:

1) general folks who don't really want your "lesson", and certainly don't care

2) Folks that do understand and don't need a "lesson".

MG

 

[mousefan73]

The "restriction", from a practical standpoint, just stops sight seeing and loitering aircraft from flying overhead. If an aircraft is in touch with air traffic control, and has proper business in the area (i.e. landing local airport), they will be allowed in the restricted area.

Excately ATC can approve what they want and seeing how often MCO/ nearby airports are hit with tropical storms ex ATC will re-route to bring plane quickly down or move to a hold. Our flights to MCO never seen to take the same pattern. Bot unheard of being diverted to Tampa or Miami. This is why I suggest avoiding late afternoon arrivals late summer/ fall. Sorry bit OT

 

[Nancyg56]

It was navy, pic here. http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/...6-our-most-memorable-moments-opening-ceremony

Thank you for posting this. I enjoyed reading.

 

[mocame]

For the invictus games they had 4 jets fly in formation over the opening ceremonies around 8:10pm, then two black hawk helicopters also flew later in the night. Michelle Obama, George W Bush and Mrs Bush were there, along with Prince Harry

Yup, we saw these too. It was pretty gool.

 

[DekrRini]

Lol!!! Sorry about the TFR lesson??
Just who do you think you are speaking to??
It's one of two groups:

1) general folks who don't really want your "lesson", and certainly don't care

2) Folks that do understand and don't need a "lesson".

MG

I couldn't tell if you were trying to be funny or sarcastic, but I did want to tell you there is a third group. General folks like me who were interested in the "lesson" and did care about learning something new.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I couldn't tell if you were trying to be funny or sarcastic, but I did want to tell you there is a third group. General folks like me who were interested in the "lesson" and did care about learning something new.

My apologies if I misinterpreted what you were saying/asking earlier.

MG