The Ferguson "revolution" may be televised courtesy of straight to YouTube cell phone clips, but any chopper-based TV crews will have to find a different vantage point, as will any and all low flying aircraft (with the exception of US government drones of course), because moments ago, the FAA announced [2] that starting 1315 UTC through 2000 UTC on August 12, "No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this NOTAM (except as described). ONLY RELIEF AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS UNDER DIRECTION OF ST." The Reason? "TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES." Because TV crews recording every incident put "law enforcement" in jeopardy?
[3]
The full statement [4]:
FDC 4/2599 ZKC MO..AIRSPACE FERGUSON, MO..TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS WITHIN AN AREA DEFINED AS 3 NM RADIUS OF 384428N0901812W (ST LOUIS VORTAC STL129011.0) SFC-3000FT TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.137(A)(2) TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT. ONLY RELIEF AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS UNDER DIRECTION OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE AUTHORIZED IN THE AIRSPACE. AIRCRAFT LANDING AND DEPARTING ST. LOUIS LAMBERT AIRPORT ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS TFR. ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT, TELEPHONE 3148892360 , IS IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION. KANSAS CITY /ZKC/ ARTCC, TELEPHONE 9132548500, IS THE FAA COORDINATION FACILITY. 1408121315-1408182000
* * *
To summarize, in addition to the heavily militarized police presence, and the barring of journalists and protestors, the government just prohibited news helicopters. Which, of course, is simply government code that tonight Ferguson may get "turbulent."
