( CNN ) Just before writing this column , I reached into the depths of my wallet , and in between the pilot licenses , I slid out a postage stamp-size certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration . The certificate documents my successful completion of the DC Special Flight Rules Area , or SFRA , online course . The online course verifies that I am knowledgeable to fly a plane under visual flight rules into the most highly restricted U.S. airspace in the country . Although a `` no-fly zone '' over the White House has long existed , the SFRA airspace was developed to protect the Washington area further after the 9/11 terrorist attacks . The size of the SFRA airspace is designed to be large enough to give our defense forces enough time to determine if a threat exists from an aircraft entering it , an opportunity to identify the threat , and if necessary , to divert or eliminate it . An airspeed restriction begins at a 60-mile radius from the center of Reagan National Airport . At the 30-mile radius , all aircraft must file a flight plan that identifies itself to air traffic control via a specific four-digit transponder code ( a transponder is an electronic communication device that identifies a specific airplane on an air traffic controller 's display screen to indicate authorization for the flight ) . Aircraft must enter the SFRA through specific flight `` gates '' that are displayed on a standard aviation map . Aircraft on instrument flight rule flight plans , which include all airline operations , are not required to comply with SFRA restrictions . Air traffic control assumes the responsibility for the appropriate routing . As a matter of standard procedure , flights using an instrument flight rule flight plan have specific clearances with specific transponder codes , so the authorization for transit through the SFRA airspace is already built into the system . Why do I carry the certificate as an airline pilot ? I have had occasion to fly my own little airplane through the airspace on a visual flight rule flight plan . Pilot who landed gyrocopter blogged about why . Noncompliance with the airspace requirements , or worse , no communication at all , carries some serious federal penalties , which could include the suspension or revocation of your pilot license . Being at the wrong end of an F-16 missile is also a possible penalty . So how does a flying machine that looks like a sophisticated lawn chair with helicopter blades invade such highly restricted airspace , as happened Wednesday , when a postal carrier from Florida landed a single-person aircraft on Capitol grounds ? Well , I 'm making an assumption based on the video footage , but it appears that this aircraft is classified by the FAA as a gyrocopter . A gyrocopter can not quite launch straight up into the air in the manner of a typical helicopter ; it requires a short ground run for takeoff . And most gyrocopters are kit-built aircraft . It also appears that this particular gyrocopter may weigh just under 255 pounds , which classifies it as an ultralight aircraft in FAA parlance . Why is weight significant ? Below that weight , a license for the pilot or a license for the aircraft is not required . In addition , to remain in the classification , the maximum designed airspeed ca n't exceed 55 knots . Lawmaker looking into gyrocopter landing as pilot goes to court . A facility tracking the movement of this particular gyrocopter on radar would witness a speed probably attainable by the average Canadian goose . And the radar reflection on a piece of machinery of that diminutive size is most likely very limited . If it was actually tracked on a radar screen , the target may have appeared to be a flock of birds . How much damage could this aircraft have inflicted had it been intended for nefarious purposes ? Well , if it had been crashed into a building , I feel confident that the building would have been triumphant . If the intent had been to carry some sort of destructive device , the weapon would have had to be relatively small . The engine is not designed to carry more than one pilot . And lack of carry-on space is a definite issue . Not that a review of airspace security measures is n't in order , but I would n't be concerned that this event will become the next threat epidemic . As an airline pilot , I can say I am relatively confident that our nation 's capital is secure from gyrocopter attacks orchestrated by misguided lunatics .
Les Abend : How did gyrocopter fly on to Capitol grounds when FAA , defense forces keep tight rein on airspace ? He says gyrocopter may be lightweight and slow enough that it evaded radar . Comment: such a flight could pose a serious danger .