Regulations and Government
Surprise FAA Notams Wreak Havoc in Texas and New Mexico
Questions swirl regarding their purpose
FAA headquarters sign
The FAA issued a pair of unexpected notams shutting down airspace in parts of the Southwest.

The FAA late last night issued a notam closing the skies over El Paso, Texas, for the next 10 days, citing “Special Security Reasons” for the TFR. While an FAA spokesperson told AIN that the notam was canceled around 9 a.m. EST this morning, another similar TFR established over Santa Teresa, New Mexico, remains in effect, according to the agency.

The El Paso TFR, which would have shut down El Paso International Airport (KELP) for the duration, described a 20-mile diameter exclusion zone—centered around the airport, and extending from the surface up to 18,000 feet—simply as “ntl defense airspace.”