[JYO] 1:30 PM FAA to issue notam permitting some VFR operations today

FAA to issue notam permitting some VFR operations today     9/19/01 1:30:03 
— AOPA has learned that FAA will issue a notam today between 4 and 6 
p.m. ET that will permit the resumption of some VFR operations. AOPA 
President Phil Boyer has talked at length with FAA Administrator Jane Garvey 
and the head of FAA's Air Traffic Services. They had just come from a meeting 
with Department of Defense and national security officials.

"We made some progress towards more VFR flight," Garvey told Boyer. But she 
said that VFR privileges would not be restored all at once. "As Secretary of 
Transportation Mineta has already said, there will be a series of phase-ins, 
with operations restored incrementally."

Garvey said that FAA will continue daily meetings with national security 
officials, and that the agency will continue work to free up more types of 
VFR operations.

"If you don't like what you hear today, just stay tuned," said Boyer. "More 
privileges will be restored as time goes on. And AOPA will be there to make 
sure that the needs of all pilots are addressed, if not today, then 
tomorrow."

The notam will not be issued until this afternoon in order to give FAA time 
to brief all Flight Service Stations on exactly what flight operations will 
be permitted. AOPA had criticized FAA for not keeping FSS personnel 
completely informed. FAA is now sending twice-daily faxes to all FSSs so the 
briefers can provide accurate information, not rumors, to pilots.

AOPA has installed its Vice President of Air Traffic Services, Melissa 
Bailey, at FAA headquarters to ensure that FAA understands the operational 
needs of general aviation pilots and that the notams are clear and consider 
all possible circumstances.

"We also now have a better idea of what national security officials are 
trying to protect," said Boyer. "All of us can easily understand that they 
want to protect the major U.S. urban areas which contain our nation's 
financial and government centers. They are also concerned about hub airports 
and commercial airline passengers.

"They also have a continuing concern about civilian flight training, which 
frankly, we have a little more difficulty understanding," said Boyer.

AOPA will update this web site with the specifics of the VFR notam as soon as 
it is released.

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