[JYO] AOPA Update 9/21/01 2:25:57 PM, ET

Some aircraft released prematurely from Kansas City Class B 
— AOPA's network of members and ASN volunteers 
reported this morning that FAA had allowed some aircraft to move VFR from 
inside the enhanced Kansas City (Missouri) Class B airspace to airports 
outside the restricted airspace. AOPA's staff on scene at FAA headquarters 
immediately checked with air traffic officials to find out the details of the 
release. Turns out, local FAA officials had acted prematurely and were not 
authorized to release the aircraft. VFR aircraft still may not fly inside any 
<A HREF="http://38.200.9.137/class_b.html";>enhanced Class B airspace</A>.

AOPA did obtain a copy of the procedures used in Kansas City. Although this 
is not official yet, these procedures could give pilots a "clue" to what FAA 
will do when it does permit VFR aircraft to relocate out of enhanced Class B. 
The procedures direct that:


Aircraft must be transponder equipped. 
Aircraft must be 2-way radio equipped. 
— it will be an IFR flight plan, with notation 
that it is a VFR move. 
Pilot must contact approach control immediately after departure. 
Approach will vector to airport of pilots choice outside the enhanced Class 
B. 
Aircraft will not be allowed to return to the original airport until the 
enhanced Class B airspace restriction is lifted. Again, at this time VFR 
flights are not permitted inside enhanced Class B. However, AOPA expects that 
FAA will publish a notam within the next few days that will permit pilots to 
move aircraft "trapped" inside the Class Bs. When that notam is published, 
based on this incident the procedures may very well look like those listed 
above.

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