The FAA has declared Note to Airmen (NOTAM) flight restrictions at Battle Ground Vortac (BTG), near Portland, OR, that are described as “Temporary flight restrictions for Special Security Reasons.”
Battle Ground Vortac is a navigation beacon system for pilots.
Civil unrest has been ongoing in Portland for nearly two months, with little to no mainstream news coverage of the conflict.
Anarchists have attacked police, federal buildings and have set fire to a police association office.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf deployed federal agents to keep the piece.
The FAA warns in the notice that “No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this NOTAM (except as described).” The notice describes the exceptions as flights involving, “active national defense, homeland security… or disaster response missions.”
Pilots operating aircraft within restricted airspace may have their aircraft seized or destroyed the FAA says.
The restrictions are in place through August 16, 2020.