[JYO] FAA Says D.C. ADIZ May Be Cancelled...

from AvWeb...


Federal officials are considering canceling the air defense identification 
zone (ADIZ) over the Washington, D.C., area now that the Department of 
Homeland Security has lowered its terrorism threat posture. FAA spokesman 
Greg Martin said the agency is meeting with the appropriate federal 
departments and it's possible the flight restrictions will be relaxed. On 
Feb. 27, the threat level was reduced from "orange," or high risk, to 
"yellow," or elevated risk, which has become the standard threat level since 
9/11. "I think it was our intention all along that [flight] conditions would 
match up with the threat level," said Martin. Before the ADIZ was imposed, 
there was a 15-mile no-fly zone centered on the Washington monument. The ADIZ 
radiated 30 miles and required transponders and constant communication with 
ATC for most aircraft. As soon as the threat level was relaxed, alphabet 
groups began lobbying for suspension of the ADIZ. "There was a certain level 
of tolerance by the general aviation community when the threat level was 
raised to orange," said EAA President Tom Poberezny. "But as the nation moves 
back to yellow status, we fully expect the additional restrictions will be 
reduced to where they were before." Poberezny said there is some indication 
the current threat is actually between yellow and orange and that possible 
war with Iraq will soon boost the threat level.

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