Frequently asked questions

Free · no accounts · no tracking

What it is

What does TFR Browser do?

It notifies you when a new Temporary Flight Restriction is published by the FAA in the states you choose. Wildfires, VIP movements, security operations, airshows, space launches — these appear with little warning, and checking for them means remembering to go and look.

How is it different from other airspace apps?

Most tools are route-based: you plan a flight, and they warn you if it conflicts. That works well if you file flight plans. It does nothing for someone who flies opportunistically and never files anything — which describes most drone work.

TFR Browser is publication-based. It tells you when a restriction appears in your area, whether or not you've planned a flight. That distinction is the whole point of it.

Why was it built?

Because most TFR violations aren't defiance. They're pilots who didn't know. Removing the need to remember to check is a bigger safety win than any amount of enforcement.

Cost and privacy

Is it really free?

Yes, permanently. No accounts, no subscription, no advertising, no analytics, no paid tier.

Does it track my location?

No, and it never asks for it. You pick states; the app has no idea where you are. That's a deliberate design decision, not an oversight.

What data does it hold?

A push subscription that identifies a device to a notification service, plus the states and time window you selected. Nothing else. Details are in the privacy policy.

How it works

How quickly will I hear about a new restriction?

The FAA's public feed is checked every 15 minutes, so an alert typically arrives within that window of publication. Restrictions are usually published hours or days before they take effect.

Why filter by state rather than distance?

Because distance filtering requires your location, and "never asks for your location" is a promise worth keeping. At the volume most states see — a few restrictions a week — a state-wide list is short enough to read. Proximity filtering earns its keep when a list is too long to scan, and this one isn't.

What does "new" mean?

Recently published, not starting soon. A restriction published today might not take effect for a fortnight.

What is the Game Days tab?

Stadiums seating 30,000 or more carry a standing restriction during major professional games — 3 NM radius, surface to 3,000 ft AGL, from one hour before until one hour after. It's easy to fly into without knowing, because unlike other restrictions it is never published as its own TFR. It exists permanently under FDC 4/3621; only the schedule changes. So the app works it out from the fixture list rather than reading it from a feed.

Why are the Game Days end times approximate?

The restriction lifts one hour after the game ends, and nobody knows in advance when that will be — extra innings, overtime and weather all move it. Treat the listed end as the earliest it might lift.

Limits — please read

Is this an official FAA app?

No. It is independent, and is not produced, endorsed, or verified by the FAA. It reads the FAA's public data but has no special access and no guarantee of accuracy or availability.

Can I rely on it instead of a preflight check?

No. It's advisory. It supplements a preflight check and does not replace one. Compliance with all airspace restrictions remains the pilot's responsibility, and the penalties for getting it wrong fall on the pilot.

Does it cover every kind of airspace restriction?

No. It covers Temporary Flight Restrictions from the FAA's public TFR feed, plus the standing stadium restriction. It does not cover controlled airspace, restricted or prohibited areas, NOTAMs generally, or local ordinances.

Is it available on Android?

There's a web version that works in Android Chrome, notifications included. Add it to your home screen and it behaves much like an installed app. There is no Play Store listing. Setup instructions.