[JYO] AOPA Update 10:51AM 9/24 - Free the GA 41,000

“” 
— AOPA staff continued efforts through the weekend 
“”’s the number of general aviation aircraft 
trapped inside enhanced Class B airspace and the Washington, D.C. and New 
York exclusionary zones. Those aircraft account for some 22 million flights 
per year. Although the aircraft could fly IFR (except in the Washington and 
New York areas), 90% of all GA flights are conducted VFR, and AOPA estimates 
that only 15% of GA pilots are current to fly IFR.

AOPA submitted a proposal to FAA with criteria for phasing back in VFR 
operations within Class B airspace. The criteria included the possible threat 
to major population centers, possible security issues based on the population 
’s distance from the Class B airport, and the volume of traffic in the 
Class B airspace.

Based on that criteria, AOPA recommended a three-phase approach, with 
airspace like Denver (which is far away from the metropolitan area) opened 
first, and concluding with the airspace that affect national security the 
most, such as Washington and New York.

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