[JYO] EAA expects ECB to be eliminated this week

Provision Calls for Elimination of Enhanced Class B Airspace

Updated 11/19/01 - President Bush signed the bipartisan Aviation and 
Transportation Security Act into law this morning during a special ceremony 
at Washington Reagan National Airport, making U.S. airport security a direct 
federal responsibility. Meanwhile, the FAA continues to work with the Office 
of Homeland Security toward an alternative to enhanced Class B restricted 
airspace ... 

As EAA reported last week, FAA officials submitted a plan to OHS to remove 
the restrictions. There is a provision in the signed bill (Section 146) 
calling for an end to restrictive measures such as ECB which reads, 
"Restrictions shall cease to be in effect for the affected class of operator 
beginning on the 30th day following the request, unless the Secretary of 
Transportation publishes a notice in the Federal Register before such 30th 
day reimposing the restriction and explaining reasons for the restriction." 
With this provision, now the law of the land, EAA expects ECB to be 
eliminated this week.

Also reported last week, two requirements were inserted into the bill in 
place of the GA-unfriendly Kohl Amendment: 1) The DOT must report back to 
Congress within 90 days with new security requirements for charter air 
carriers 12,500 lbs and heavier and 2) The DOT must report back within 30 
days on airspace and other security measures that can be deployed when needed 
to deal with national security concerns. Any new congressional requirement 
for a general aviation security program would require additional legislation.

Regarding flight training, the new law requires background checks of foreign 
nationals seeking to learn (including training through the use of flight 
simulators) to fly aircraft that have a minimum certificated takeoff weight 
of more than 12,500 lbs.

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