[JYO] AOPA pressing solutions to D.C. ADIZ problems
- From: FlyboyEd@xxxxxxx
- To: jyo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 18:50:40 EST
Mar. 13 — Following numerous discussions by AOPA Government and Technical
Affairs management with FAA and Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
officials, AOPA President Phil Boyer sent a series of recommendations to the
FAA and TSA to help alleviate problems encountered in the Washington, D.C. <A
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2001/010915tfr.html#3/1850";>
Air Defense Identification Zone</A> (ADIZ). This area encompasses airspace
within
a 30-mile radius of Washington. The FAA and TSA told AOPA late Thursday they
are "actively considering" the proposals.
Predictions made by AOPA when the ADIZ was established in February proved
true when the first weekend of good weather brought out additional flights,
overwhelming the air traffic control system. In literally hundreds of
instances, the system failed pilots and air traffic controllers. This
resulted in confusion, frustration, and, during certain times, absolute
gridlock as pilots waited on the ground with engines running or in the air
circling for interminable periods of time. The central problem was receiving
a special transponder code that permits operations in the Washington, D.C.
ADIZ.
The recommendations were established based on the real-world experiences
reported to a special email address set up by AOPA in anticipation that there
would be problems. More than 150 members responded with their weekend flying
experiences, and the association began developing a set of recommendations to
address the operational problems to reduce the burden on pilots and
controllers, while maintaining security.
<A HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/030313letter.html";>In a
letter</A> to executives of FAA and TSA, Boyer proposes four <A
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/030313recommendations.html";>specific
suggestions</A>:
Reduce the number of requests for transponder codes by assigning discrete
codes for each airport within the ADIZ; one for arriving aircraft, a second
for departing aircraft, and a third for aircraft staying in the pattern at
the airport.
Establish corridors to and from each airport for aircraft operations. Also,
have a specific radio frequency for pilots to monitor while in the corridor,
reducing contact with air traffic controllers to only upon request.
Establish a "cutout" of the ADIZ for Bay Bridge Airport, which is at the
fringe of the controlled area.
General aviation flights not originating in or departing the ADIZ would be
encouraged to avoid transiting the ADIZ. Boyer pledged AOPA's help in getting
information to pilots. He said if these important changes are made, "AOPA
will work diligently to distribute the information to pilots and to publicize
the simplified rules." This would include physically getting posters and
other material to the affected airports and extensive use of AOPA's
electronic outreach.
The occurrences over last weekend resulted when the air traffic system was
unable to support the operational needs of general aviation flights in the
area; this, despite diligent work of the staffs in the Baltimore and Potomac
Tracons. John Carr, president of the controllers association, told Boyer he
supports AOPA's solutions but added that if they were not all accepted by FAA
and TSA, additional controllers could be assigned to Baltimore and an unused
portion of the new high-tech, state-of-the-art facility, Potomac Tracon.
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