[JYO] AOPA work leads to end of enhanced Class B airspace nationwide

AOPA work leads to end of enhanced Class B airspace nationwide
Three Washington-area airports reopen, VFR operations resume in major NE 
cities  
12/19/2001 4:32:10 PM ET — AOPA negotiations with top government officials 
have finally resulted in the nationwide elimination of enhanced Class B (ECB) 
airspace and the reopening of three Washington, D.C. area airports.

"AOPA is thrilled that its close work with FAA, Department of Transportation, 
Department of Defense, and Homeland Security officials has resulted in this 
much-needed relief for general aviation, especially here at AOPA's home base 
in the Northeast," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "And considering there was 
a point when FAA had considered making ECB permanent, these changes are a 
clear indication that things are finally getting back to normal in the 
National Airspace System. This is the most significant step forward since the 
initial resumption of limited VFR operations on September 19."

FAA today issued <A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2001/010915tfr.html#1/3355";>a 
notam</A> that removed enhanced Class B airspace from 30 major 
metropolitan areas, reduced the size of the temporary flight restrictions 
(TFRs) "no fly" zones around New York City and Washington, D.C, and added a 
small TFR in Boston. That means VFR operations can resume (except for the TFR 
areas) in those three metropolitan areas, and specialty operations (news and 
traffic reporting, sight-seeing tours, banner towing, etc.) can resume in 
Class B airspace everywhere.

For Washington, D.C.-area pilots, the even more exciting news is that 
Freeway, Maryland, and Suburban airports in Maryland may now reopen. Those 
general aviation airports, home to more than 230 aircraft, have been closed 
since the September 11th attacks. Unfortunately, three other area airports 
(College Park, Potomac, and Hyde Field) remain trapped under the reduced-size 
TFR.

AOPA will continue to work to restore operations at these important general 
aviation facilities.

The remaining TFR restrictions are as follows:


<A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2001/010915tfr.html#1/3354-2";>Boston
 TFR</A> - Below 3,000 feet agl and 3 nm radius around a propane facility 
near Boston Logan Airport. 
<A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2001/010915tfr.html#1/3354-3";>New 
York TFR</A> - Below 8,000 feet agl and 8 nm radius centered on "ground 
zero," the World Trade Center site. 
<A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2001/010915tfr.html#1/3354-1";>Washington
 TFR</A> - Below flight level 180 (18,000 feet) and a 15 statute mile 
radius of the Washington Monument with a cut-out for Freeway Airport, 
Maryland. Remaining security concerns necessitate this larger TFR area. 
"Except for the Washington TFR, FAA's action today addresses all of the 
issues AOPA has raised with FAA and security officials in the past few 
weeks," said Boyer. "AOPA will continue to work with the FAA to ensure that 
the remaining Washington restrictions are lifted. Our goal is the complete 
restoration of all flying privileges."

AOPA staff has worked non-stop since September 11th to restore all general 
aviation operations.

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