Part of the government's responsibility to keep President Donald Trump safe from the multitude of threats against him involves restricting access to the airspace above him for unauthorized civilian aircraft.

Over the weekend, U.S. Air Force fighter jets were twice scrambled to respond to civilian aircraft that violated the restricted airspace above Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in South Florida, the Associated Press reported.

Per federal authorities, the two incidents on Saturday and Sunday were the latest of more than 20 unauthorized incursions into the restricted airspace above Mar-a-Lago since Trump was inaugurated into office less than two months ago on Jan. 20.

F-16s scrambled over Mar-a-Lago

The AP noted that the Federal Aviation Administration constantly maintains flight restrictions directly over top of Mar-a-Lago that are extended out to encompass a 30-mile radius when President Trump is on the premises of his resort residence in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump was at Mar-a-Lago this weekend and U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets were scrambled Saturday morning to intercept a civilian aircraft in the restricted area while the president began a round of golf at his private West Palm Beach course.

F-16s were again scrambled on an interception mission on Sunday afternoon and found it necessary to deploy flares to grab the attention of a civilian aircraft that violated the protected airspace while Trump finished up a round of golf at the same course.

In both instances, the intercepted aircraft quickly exited the restricted area and, per officials, neither Trump's schedule nor his security measures were altered or impacted.

TRF "procedures are not optional" for civilian aircraft

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, issued a statement following Saturday morning's incident that served as a terse reminder for civilian aircraft to take note of and comply with Temporary Flight Restrictions, or TRFs, over President Trump's properties and anywhere else they may be imposed.

"NORAD and the FAA work closely together to keep the skies over America safe, with close attention paid to areas with Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR)," NORAD Commander Gen. Gregory Guillot said. "Adherence to TFR procedures is essential to ensure flight safety, national security, and the security of the President."

"The procedures are not optional," the general reminded, "and the excessive number of recent TFR violations indicates many civil aviators are not reading Notice to Airmen, or NOTAMs, before each flight as required by the FAA, and has resulted in multiple responses by NORAD fighter aircraft to guide offending aircraft out of the TFR."

The statement added that if any civilian aircraft found themselves intercepted by fighter jets or helicopters, they must immediately switch their radios to specific frequencies and "turn around to reverse course until receiving additional instructions on one of those frequencies."

There can be consequences for violating TRFs

According to the FAA, TRFs work to restrict designated areas of airspace the same as blocking access to certain roads and streets on the ground to unauthorized traffic, and there can be consequences for violations of those restrictions.

TRFs are typically imposed for natural disasters, major sporting events, and emergency or national security-related situations, and apply to all civilian aircraft, including drones, though special permission to access TRFs can be requested and granted, typically for first responders, public safety agencies, and the media.

All unauthorized violations of TRFs are investigated by the FAA and can result in escalating sanctions that range from warnings and fines to the suspension or revocation of flight certificates and licenses.