[JYO] AOPA Update 7:56PM - Boyer writes Bush...

AOPA urges Bush to restore more VFR flight

— In a letter to the President, AOPA President Phil Boyer 
reminded President George W. Bush that tens of thousands of licensed pilots 
are still restricted from flying in America and urged the president to review 
AOPA recommendations to reduce emergency restrictions and re-open key 
reliever airports to general aviation activities. [See AOPA President Boyer's 
letter to President Bush.]

"I watched with great interest today as you urged Americans to "get the 
airplanes flying again all across America" and "get about the business of 
America," Boyer said. "As the leader of the nation's largest pilot 
organization, our members would like to do nothing more than utilize the 
investment they have in their general aviation aircraft and get them "flying 
again across all of America." But today, tens of thousands of pilots licensed 
under strict FAA regulations still cannot fly."

Boyer said an estimated 65 percent of general aviation flights are conducted 
for business and public service and that the existing restrictions on general 
aviation today are putting a great number of Americans out of work and 
hurting aviation business at a level exceeding $400 million to date. General 
Aviation is a $20 billion a year industry that generates more than $64 
billion in economic activity and is deeply woven into the fabric of American 
life. "Therefore we would very much like to "get about the business of 
America."

AOPA has provided the FAA with several, measured proposals to return more 
general aviation access to enhanced Class B airspace and reduce the current 
temporary airspace ban on all general aviation flights surrounding New York 
City and Washington D.C. These recommendations immediately open several key 
reliever airports to business travelers who rely on general aviation for 
travel to these cities and eliminates the need to temporarily relocate 
hundreds of aircraft.

"Mr. President, as I write this letter, we have learned the White House could 
issue a statement that "deadly force" could be used against any aircraft that 
enters restricted or prohibited airspace without authorization. Since this 
places the "ultimate penalty" on a pilot violating airspace restrictions, 
then why can't the AOPA proposals above be implemented?"

Boyer thanked the President for his tireless efforts at this critical moment 
in the history of our great nation. "All of America stands with you," he 
said. "I made note of your remarks in bringing the country together during 
this tragedy that terrorists should "not change our way of life..." or 
"affect our freedoms. General aviation pilots in America have been patient, 
but isn't now the time to re-assess these emergency restrictions?"

---
September 27, 2001

Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of the 375,000 members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots 
Association (AOPA), I want to personally thank you for your tireless efforts 
at this critical moment in the history of our great nation. All of America 
stands with you.

Like all Americans, general aviation pilots are shocked over the cowardly 
attacks on our country and outraged that terrorists would use the freedom of 
our own aviation system against us. I watched with great interest yesterday 
as you urged Americans to "get the airplanes flying again all across 
America." and "get about the business of America." As the leader of the 
nation's largest pilot organization, our members would like to do nothing 
more than utilize the investment they have in their general aviation aircraft 
and get them "flying again across all of America." But today, tens of 
thousands of pilots licensed under strict FAA regulations still cannot fly.

Mr. President, an estimated 65 percent of general aviation flights are 
conducted for business and public service. The existing restrictions on 
general aviation today are putting a great number of Americans out of work 
and hurting aviation business at a level exceeding $400 million to date. 
Therefore we would very much like to "get about the business of America." 
General Aviation is a $20 billion a year industry that generates more than 
$64 billion in economic activity and is deeply woven into the fabric of 
American life. General aviation is business and personal travel, and flight 
instruction for future military and airline pilots. It's inspecting 
pipelines, aerial surveying, spotters for fishing fleets, and carrying out 
emergency duties such as transporting blood supplies and vital organs.

Large airliners were the first civilian aircraft back in the skies above 
America. Unfortunately, many small, general aviation aircraft are still 
grounded. These small aircraft are no threat. They represent no more of a 
weapon of mass destruction than cars. More than three quarters of all general 
aviation aircraft have fewer than six seats and weigh less than an 
automobile. They are 190 times smaller than a Boeing 767. And general 
— business associates, 
friends and family.

AOPA has worked diligently with Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta and FAA 
Administrator Jane Garvey after the ground stop was put into place in the 
wake of the horrible events of September 11th that brought our Nation's 
airport and airway system to a complete halt. Since then, the FAA has slowly 
brought the system back up to speed. However, the National Security Council 
has demanded that a prohibition on Visual Flight Rules (VFR) traffic inside 
"enhanced Class B" airspace not be removed. This has resulted in some 41,000 
general aviation aircraft, which account for some 22 million flights per 
year, being trapped inside these areas and not
allowed to leave, unless they are flown on an instrument flight plan. The 
"Catch 22" is that only 15% of the nation's pilots are instrument current, 
and many of these planes are not certified for instrument flight.

Getting them back into the air is important to America.

We have provided the FAA with several, measured proposals to return general 
aviation access to our nation's airspace on the perimeters of 30 major urban 
areas; that are now operating as "enhanced Class B" airspace; and two, 
Washington, D.C. and New York City, that include a restriction for all 
general aviation flight in a 25nm "no fly zone."

Our recommendations include:

Allow piston engine aircraft weighing 6,000 pounds gross take-off weight or 
less to resume operations, in the 30 enhanced Class B areas. 

Ironically, at our urging, late last week flight training was restored in 
this airspace. Never did we think that licensed VFR pilots would continue to 
be denied access.

Reduce the current temporary airspace ban on all general aviation flights in 
New York City and Washington D.C. areas from 25 nautical miles to 16 nautical 
miles. 

This immediately opens several key reliever airports to general aviation 
activities and eliminates the need to temporarily relocate hundreds of 
aircraft. The airports outside of the 16-mile radius are important to 
business travelers who rely on general aviation for travel to these two great 
cities. Again, the aircraft using these airports are slow moving, and flown 
by competent, rated pilots who are accustomed to operations in busy airspace. 
The size and speed of the aircraft using these airports will not affect 
response times by homeland defense forces providing security patrols. These 
aircraft will also be subject to existing Class B airspace rules.

Mr. President, as I write this letter, we have learned the White House could 
issue a statement that "deadly force" could be used against any aircraft that 
enters restricted or prohibited airspace without authorization. Since this 
places the "ultimate penalty" on a pilot violating airspace restrictions, 
then why can't the AOPA proposals above be implemented?

As the government examines initiatives to enhance our nation's security, 
let's make sure the added security measures make a difference, and not be 
blindly applied where they will continue to close businesses, hurt commerce 
and further restrict travel.

I made note of your remarks in bringing the country together during this 
tragedy that terrorists should "not change our way of life..." or  "affect 
our freedoms". General aviation pilots in America have been patient, but 
isn't now the time to re-assess these emergency restrictions?

Sincerely,



Phil Boyer

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