A Boeing 787 captain flying toward Miami recently shared an intriguing aviation fact that most travelers might not expect: in the flat, sea-level Florida Keys, pilots are required to ascend to a higher minimum safe altitude than when crossing the peaks of the Pyrenees.
This necessity, explained by pilot and psychologist Alfonso de Bertodano, who runs the channel @perdiendoelmiedoavolar, traces back to the Cold War era.
"As we approach Florida's southwestern region, in the Keys, despite being at sea level, we must maintain a minimum safety height of 15,200 feet, or about 4,600 meters," Bertodano stated. This exceeds the 13,600 feet required to fly over the Pyrenees, a mountain range with summits over 3,000 meters high.
Aerostatic Influence Over the Florida Keys
The reason for this airspace restriction in southern Florida is a tethered aerostat known as "Fat Albert," stationed at Cudjoe Key, just 115 miles from Havana. This balloon is part of the infrastructure for Radio Martí and TV Martí, U.S. government-funded media outlets designed to deliver uncensored information to the Cuban population.
Bertodano explained in his video that during the 1980s, under the Reagan administration and amid the Cold War, Radio Martí and Television Martí were established to broadcast worldwide news, sports, interviews, and music to young Cubans, circumventing state control.
Radio Martí began airing on May 20, 1985, a date chosen for its significance as the anniversary of Cuban independence. TV Martí joined in 1990, utilizing a transmitter suspended by the aerostat over Cudjoe Key from its inception. The Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS), as it's technically called, also supports radar surveillance and anti-drug operations in the Florida Straits.
"They created a tethered balloon to hold an antenna, allowing information to reach Cuba. Consequently, today, as broadcasts continue, aircraft passing through this area must ascend higher than when crossing the Pyrenees," the pilot summed up.
Bertodano described the finding as "a fascinating blend of aviation, history, and Cold War secrets hidden in an aeronautical chart."
The aerostat is reported to remain operational through 2026, although recent events have been tumultuous for Radio and TV Martí. In March 2025, the Trump administration ordered a restructuring of the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), leading to a temporary shutdown of Radio Martí transmitters in the Florida Keys and widespread layoffs, sparking strong reactions from the Cuban American community.
This decision also ignited a heated debate about the future of these outlets, with Cuban American politicians advocating for them as a crucial tool for informing Cubans on the island.
Bertodano's video turned a technical curiosity from an aeronautical chart into a historical lesson connecting commercial aviation, media, and decades of tension between Washington and Havana.
Aviation and Media Relations in the Florida Keys
Why must pilots fly higher over the Florida Keys?
Pilots are required to fly at a higher altitude over the Florida Keys due to a tethered aerostat, known as "Fat Albert," which is part of the infrastructure for broadcasting Radio Martí and TV Martí to Cuba.
What is the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS)?
The Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) is a system that uses a tethered balloon to support radar surveillance and anti-drug operations in the Florida Straits, and also aids in broadcasting information to Cuba.
What historical context led to the creation of Radio and TV Martí?
Radio and TV Martí were created during the Reagan administration in the 1980s, as part of Cold War efforts to provide uncensored information to Cubans, bypassing the Cuban government's control.