[JYO] AOPA plan part of FAA discussions

AOPA plan part of FAA discussions

10/11/01 10:10:48 AM, ET — AOPA's <A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2001/011010plan.html";>plan for 
resuming VFR flights</A> in enhanced 
Class B airspace is an important component of FAA discussions. AOPA's 
on-scene representative at FAA headquarters hand-delivered the plan to key 
decision makers. The plan was considered during a high-level FAA meeting late 
yesterday afternoon. FAA thanked AOPA for the input, noting that it came at 
exactly the right time. 

- - -
Plan for resuming VFR flights in enhanced Class B airspace

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has developed the following 
plan for the resumption of Visual Flight Rule (VFR) operations in "enhanced" 
Class B (ECB) airspace.

The need for VFR flying in the 30 areas of ECB airspace includes:

90% of all general aviation operations are VFR 
282 airports are affected by the ECB 
22 million annual operations occur at the affected airports 
41,000 aircraft are located at airports inside ECB 
120,000 pilots operate at airports inside ECB 
Fixed cost of aircraft ownership continues to accrue (principle/interest, 
insurance, hangar/tie down, annual maintenance inspection)

Aviation businesses at affected airports are facing bankruptcy 

AOPA recommends the following operational requirements for VFR operations in 
ECB airspace:

Limited to aircraft weighing 6,000 lbs or less gross takeoff weight 
Exiting (egress) ECB from an affected airport is limited to the most direct 
path 
Entering (ingress) ECB to land at an affected airport is limited to the most 
direct path 
Monitor VHF frequency 121.5 on all flights in ECB when not in communication 
with Air Traffic Control (ATC) 
Operations in ECB would require three universally applied transponder codes: 
Outbound from an affected airport 
Inbound to an affected airport 
Local pattern work at an affected airport 
Non-transponder equipped aircraft operations are permitted and required to 
meet all of the above requirements except for a working transponder 

In addition to the airspace-based recommendations, AOPA offers the following 
enhancements to permit certain specialty operations currently not permitted 
to operate VFR in ECB airspace.

These specialty operations require strict adherence to the following 
procedures at all times while inside ECB airspace:

Receive approval for route or activity prior to conducting any operation 
ATC assigned discrete beacon code (squawk) for each flight 
Maintain communication with ATC at all times 
Clearance required to operate within the ECB airspace 

Additional procedures for each specific activity type are also listed below:

Airborne Traffic Reporting

One aircraft permitted to operate in each geographical area (e.g. SW quadrant 
of city) 
No deviations from approved route 
Limit occupants to essential crew (reporter and pilot) 

Airborne News Reporting

Maximum of 5 minutes at any one location 
Establish procedures whereby aircraft can depart ECB immediately when 
required by ATC 
Limit occupants to essential crew (reporter, photographer and pilot) 

Banner Towing

One aircraft may operate in each geographical area at a time 
No deviations from approved route 

Aerial surveying

Pre-coordination should include stated reason for survey 
Government contract work coordinated with ATC through contracting office of 
authorizing agency 


==end==

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