[JYO] FAA airspace plan in final approval stage

FAA airspace plan in final approval stage
Some trapped airports may resume near normal operations
    
11/15/01 3:57:40 PM ET — After intensive meetings with security agencies, FAA 
officials tell AOPA they have "cautious optimism" for a plan to ease 
remaining emergency airspace restrictions in Washington and other locations 
around the country. If final security hurdles are cleared tomorrow, it is 
possible that airports in the Washington "no-fly" zone could be operating 
this weekend.

AOPA has been working with the FAA on a Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) plan 
for Washington that would allow three (Freeway, Maryland, Suburban) of the 
six "trapped" airports to resume almost normal operations. The three airports 
(Hyde, Potomac, College Park) that are closer to Washington would have to 
comply with point of departure security procedures in order to resume 
operations. The plan would also open up the Baltimore/Washington VFR corridor 
to general aviation traffic. If implemented, this SFRA is a critical first 
step to fully restoring general aviation access to the Washington 
Metropolitan area.

In addition to the SFRA, FAA is also seeking final security sign-off on its 
plan to phase out enhanced Class B airspace at 27 locations around the 
country, freeing up specialty (news and traffic reporting, banner towing, 
etc.) Part 91 operations. . If the SFRA and notam were approved, the only 
remaining airspace restrictions would be in the Washington, Boston and New 
York areas.

"We appreciate FAA's persistence in pushing to reopen more airspace," said 
AOPA President Phil Boyer. AOPA will continue to work closely with the FAA on 
implementing these important plans to restore general aviation access to 
airspace.

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