The story goes like this: The one thing my flight instructor left out of my pilot training was the ADIZ. Shortly after I finished my pilot training my friend (who also just finished his training) and I rented a plane in Orlando for some weekend sight seeing with our first stop in Key West. My friend is from Arizona and I am from NJ. Prior to 9-11 there were no ADIZ's of concern to anyone in NJ or AZ. Lots of restricted airspace but no ADIZ. I guess that's why ADIZ never came up in training.
Due to a screw up at the airplane rental facility (actually I think they ripped us off but that's a different story) we had to get a different plane from a different rental agency. Because of the screw up we were running VERY late. To save time my friend did the pre-flight checks on the airplane while I called in a new flight plan.
Our original flight plan would have taken the scenic route along the Florida keys but because of the delays, the Key West airport would have closed before we arrived, so a direct route was our only hope to get in before it closed. The call to the flight service station (FFS) went something like this;
Me: Hi this is N1234 looking for a standard briefing and I would like to file a VFR flight plan from MCO direct to EYW. (basically I'm asking for weather information and I want to let them know we're flying from MCO, Orlando Executive airport directly to EYW, Key West airport in case we crash they will come looking for us.)
FSS: Yes the weather in route will be (yada yada yada)..... And to file your flight plan please tell me what time you will be crossing the ADIZ.
Me: Crossing the ADIZ? Whats an ADIZ?
FSS: You don't know what an ADIZ is???
Me: Ahhh nope, I think my flight instructor left that one out.
FSS: Oh ok... How big are the tail numbers on your plane.
Me: How big???????
FSS: Yes, how big are the numbers?
Me: Um about 18 inches.
FSS: Oh good you have the big numbers.
Me: Big Numbers??? Is that important????????
FSS: Oh YES, because when you cross the ADIZ without telling us, we send up the F16s to find out who you are and they have to get close enough to read your tail numbers. (the very nice FSS person then explained to me exactly what the ADIZ is)
Me: WE WILL BE CROSSING THE ADIZ at 10:32:24!!!!!!!!!
So whats an ADIZ? Its the "Air Defense Zone". An imaginary line around the US that any aircraft crossing must be identified first! Since the Florida keys are in a hook off the tip of Florida the ADIZ dips in behind the hook. Anyone flying direct to Key West from Orlando will cross the ADIZ twice. Once leaving US air space and once entering. The leaving isn't the bad part its the entering that gets you an escort!
BTW, we also screwed up the airport closing time. Key West Airport was closed by the time we arrived. Can you say Pilot Controlled Lighting! But that's another story. :-)