[JYO] AOPA asks TSA to restore transient operations for the "DC3" airports

AOPA asks TSA to restore transient operations for the "DC3" airports
GA operations do not pose a security threat

Apr. 26 — In a <A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2002/02-2-061x_ltr.html";>letter</A>
 to TSA Under Secretary John Magaw, AOPA urged the 
lifting of restrictions on transient flight operations and revising the 
requirements for based aircraft at College Park Airport, Potomac Airfield, 
and Washington Executive/Hyde Field in Maryland. Closed since the September 
11th terrorist attack, limited operations at these three airports resumed in 
February under Special Flight Rule (SFAR) 94 (link). SFAR 94 places 
significant restrictions on based pilots and prohibits transient operations 
altogether, economically devastating the businesses based at these airports. 

In the letter to Magaw, AOPA points out that SFAR 94 contains a provision 
that states, "...after an initial procedural validation period, the FAA may 
authorize operations to or from an affected airport by persons operating an 
aircraft not based at the airport." Given that over 60 days have passed since 
the issuance of SFAR 94, AOPA now feels it's time for TSA and the FAA to 
review existing policy and allow expanded operations.

There are no credible threats that justify the current restrictions and GA 
aircraft do not pose a security threat. 

"Because the longest runway at these three airports is 3,000 feet, large, 
heavy jet aircraft cannot fly into or depart from these facilities. The 
largest GA aircraft that could operate from these locations is a light twin 
airplane weighing less than 6,000 pounds," stated Andy Cebula, AOPA's Senior 
Vice President of Government and Technical Affairs. "With appropriate control 
mechanisms, transient operations should be permitted." These requirements 
could include a mandate to file a VFR or IFR flight plan while maintaining 
ATC contact and avoiding departure routes toward the nation's capital.

Prior to the airspace closure, these three airports hosted over 110,000 
operations annually, and were home to nearly 400 based aircraft. That number 
now stands less than 150. College Park, the nation's oldest continuously 
operating airport, is especially hard hit, having been reduced to a single 
full-time employee and less than 40 based aircraft. 

AOPA continues to work toward a solution that will provide relief by making 
these important resources available to the entire general aviation community.

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