[JYO] Closed Maryland airports reopen tomorrow night (CGS, VKX & W32)

Feb. 21 — FAA security officials report that — as of today — 300 pilots 
cleared the security background check required for approval to fly out of the 
three closed Washington, D.C.-area airports (College Park Airport [CGS], 
Potomac Airfield [VKX], and Washington Executive/Hyde Field [W32]). As 
outlined in the <A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2002/sfar94.html";>Special Flight 
Rules</A> (SFAR-94) published February 14 the 
final hurdle for approved pilots is a mandatory security briefing. This 
briefing is slated to take place on Friday night, February 22, in Brandywine, 
Maryland. FAA reports that Friday's briefing is for approved pilots only but 
assures AOPA that procedures to expand the approval process, for based pilots 
who missed the first round of security clearances, are being finalized.

Approved pilots who attend the briefing will be issued confidential pilot 
identification number (PIN) codes and will be free to fly, contingent on 
individual airport ground security procedures being in place. The FAA is 
working closely with airport operators and anticipates that all three 
airports should be able to meet ground security requirements by tomorrow 
evening. Approved pilots will be allowed to operate out of their based 
airport, provided they file an IFR or VFR flight plan with Leesburg Flight 
Service via the telephone using a confidential PIN code. In addition to 
following specific arrival and departure procedures, when airborne, these 
flights will remain under close scrutiny and are required to maintain 
communication with ATC while operating in SFAR-94 airspace.

"AOPA is thrilled that operations will resume as early as tomorrow night," 
said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "We applaud the FAA's diligence in 
implementing procedures that place the least amount of financial and 
operational hardship on users. As noted in the SFAR, security options 
including the employment of full-time law enforcement personnel at the 
airports, a requirement for aircraft to land at gateway airports for 
inspection, and other burdensome procedures were rejected in favor of 
common-sense ideas that take advantage of existing airport resources."

Following the SFAR's 60-day test period, it is AOPA's desire to see it 
expanded in the future with the goal of restoring all general aviation 
operations at these airports.

Friday night's security briefing will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Gwynn Park 
High School, 13800 Brandywine Road, Brandywine, Maryland. For additional 
details, contact 301-864-5844.

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