[JYO] AOPA Updates for 9/23/01

AOPA continues efforts to open Class B airspace to all
Congratulates pilots for complying with complex rules   
— As the sun began to set on the East Coast, AOPA 
President Phil Boyer congratulated pilots "for following the sometimes 
complex airspace procedures, and adapting to the special regulations." 
General aviation pilots demonstrated their professionalism and did their best 
to adhere to the sometimes confusing and changing rules. AOPA staff worked 
through the weekend to ensure that pilots not only had the most recent 
information, but also clear explanations of what the latest notams really 
meant.

But while many pilots were able to exercise their VFR privileges, Boyer said, 
"I also know that the job isn't done yet. Many of you still cannot fly and 
are virtually trapped within Class B airspace or the exclusionary zones in 
the Washington, D.C., and New York areas. Throughout this weekend, I have 
been in personal contact with FAA's head of air traffic, and he assures me 
that as we proceed incrementally in the return to normalcy, these issues will 
be addressed." AOPA has presented FAA with specific proposals for relaxing 
some of the Class B restrictions.

Saturday was a particularly busy day with the return of flight training, and 
the first weekend that many pilots could fly VFR in much of the country. At 
Smoketown Airport, a small strip in Pennsylvania, Boyer heard one pilot 
reflect on the past week with no GA flying. As he was preflighting his 
experimental, that pilot said, "When they say you can't do something, that's 
when you really want to."

Boyer again reminded pilots that they must get the latest notams before 
flying and comply with all regulations and restrictions.

"Long term, the full restoration of all our flying privileges will depend on 
what we do right now. When the people in charge of national security see the 
evidence that GA pilots are good citizens, that gives us the strong argument 
for relaxing the remaining restrictions."

    
    
FAA bans Part 137 agricultural operations   
— FAA banned <A HREF="http://38.200.9.137/010915tfr.html#0398";>Part 137 
agricultural ("cropduster") 
operations</A> once again on Sunday. The ban includes all aircraft "capable or 
equipped for agricultural operations," whether they are flying under Part 137 
or any other FAR (for example, Part 91). The ban remains in effect until 
12:05 a.m. local time Sept. 24. AOPA again reminds pilots that they must 
check all notams immediately prior to starting any flight.

    
    
AOPA answers pilots' questions  
— AOPA's aviation technical specialists were on the 
phones Saturday, answering pilot questions about their current flight 
privileges. Here are some of the frequently asked questions: 

What is "enhanced class B airspace?"
According to FAA, "ENHANCED CLASS B AIRSPACE" IS DEFINED AS THAT AIRSPACE 
WITHIN THE EXTREME LATERAL LIMIT OF CLASS B AIRSPACE FROM SURFACE TO 
INFINITY." This includes all of the area WITHIN, BELOW, OR ABOVE CLASS B 
AIRSPACE. The "Mode C Veil" is not part of the enhanced Class B airspace 
area. [<A HREF="http://38.200.9.137/class_b.html";>See graphic</A>.]

I'm a student pilot. Can I fly?
Student pilots (those holding student pilot certificates and appropriate 
endorsements) are authorized to solo outside of enhanced Class B airspace. 
This includes but is not limited to: flight reviews, instrument proficiency, 
instruction toward a certificate or rating, and touch & goes. Students are 
NOT permitted to fly solo within the enhanced Class B airspace.

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