[JYO] AOPA "educates" TSA on impacts of Washington airspace restrictions

AOPA's Mark Lowdermilk was at the Leesburg Airport Commission meeting last 
night and explained the financial impact of restricted airspace.  He passed 
out copies and explained parts of the same presentation that Phil Boyer gave 
to the TSA.

If you don't have Microsoft PowerPoint, you can download a free Viewer at: <A 
HREF="http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/f/e/ffe7ddbc-d055-4bbf-8e09-3bdce732ebbc/ppview97.exe";>
http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/f/e/ffe7ddbc-d055-4bbf-8e09-3bdce732e

bbc/ppview97.exe</A> 

Thanks,

Ed

- - - -

AOPA "educates" TSA on impacts of Washington airspace restrictions

Feb. 11 — AOPA President Phil Boyer gave an eye-opening presentation to 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials yesterday, educating 
them on the operational problems the new Washington, D.C., air defense 
identification zone (ADIZ) presents to general aviation pilots, and detailing 
the significant economic impacts that airspace restrictions have on GA.

"I think the government was startled to learn that within 55 nautical miles 
of Washington, D.C., there are some 270 landing facilities, including 33 
public-use airports that are home to 95 businesses employing more than 800 
people," said Boyer. "Those businesses contribute some $158 million a year to 
the economy, with a total economic impact of more than $453 million. Flight 
training alone accounts for over $12 million, and repair and maintenance adds 
another $11 million.

"And here's the kicker: If the government were to restrict GA operations in 
this area, the government would lose $186,300 per day in tax revenue."

Boyer's fact-filled <A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/capital/";>PowerPoint 
presentation</A> was part of a "stakeholders" 
meeting between general aviation organizations and TSA and FAA. TSA had asked 
AOPA what the impact would be if the government were to restrict GA within 55 
nm of the capital, as has been proposed by some security officials.

Boyer and AOPA Senior Vice President for Government and Technical Affairs 
Andy Cebula also explained some of the problems created by the <A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/03-1-063x.html";>just-imposed 
ADIZ</A> in the Baltimore-Washington Class B airspace.

Of critical concern is the conflict between security and safety concerns. The 
notam requires pilots to be in constant contact with Potomac Tracon, which 
means they can't communicate on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF 
or unicom). That increases the risk of a midair collision at the nontowered 
airports within the ADIZ.

AOPA also questioned whether air traffic control had the staffing to handle 
the increased VFR traffic and if the flight service station system could 
handle the increased volume of VFR and IFR flight plans.

Boyer and Cebula explained that many of the airports within the ADIZ don't 
have remote communications outlets to permit pilots to talk to ATC on the 
ground. "Without these facilities, how can pilots request the required 
discrete transponder codes, and how can they open and close flight plans?" 
AOPA asked.

Boyer asked TSA for more such "listening sessions" and to form a "go team" 
that would include general aviation experts to address breaking security 
situations.

Other related posts: