[JYO] Message from Phil Boyer, AOPA President

Date: October 30, 2003
To: Washington, D.C.-area pilots
From: Phil Boyer, AOPA President
Re: Washington ADIZ


Dear AOPA Member:

I am sending you this special e-mail because you most likely have been 
as frustrated as I have about the Washington Metropolitan Area Air 
Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) that was put in place in February 
when the nation was on a higher threat warning. We were extremely 
disappointed that it was not eliminated after the Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS) lowered the national threat level from orange to yellow. 
At that time we began a campaign to minimize the operational impact of 
the ADIZ, while pressing for its elimination. Our message has been simple: 
"Operationally, the ADIZ does not work!" My wife and I get firsthand 
experience with the operational problems and frustrations during our 
personal VFR flights in our Cessna Skyhawk.

I instituted regularly scheduled meetings with AOPA's Government and 
Technical Affairs staff to develop and implement strategies to address 
the ADIZ situation. An important part of our effort was a comprehensive 
set of recommendations that we developed for improving operational 
procedures in the ADIZ 
( http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/030313recommendations.html ), 
which we presented to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 
and FAA in March. We also have been able to work with our friends in 
Congress to have language included in the FAA's reauthorization 
legislation that calls for a reevaluation of the need for the ADIZ with 
the hope that it will be eliminated. However, if it is determined that 
it must continue, the legislation calls for making it operationally 
viable. This bill is awaiting final passage.

AOPA staff also has addressed the ADIZ in frequent meetings with the 
FAA, TSA, DHS, Department of Defense, White House, and Congress. AOPA's 
case was strengthened recently when Adm. James Loy, administrator of 
TSA--who is now in line to serve as the deputy for the entire DHS--told 
the House aviation subcommittee, "In the immediate aftermath of the 
September 11 attacks, the threat posed by general aviation was overstated 
by some in government."

For the first time, I now have some good news. Beginning this weekend, 
the FAA and government security agencies will implement several of AOPA's 
recommended operational improvements to the ADIZ for a 60-day test period. 
At two GA airports, Bay Bridge (W29) and Kentmorr (3W3), the FAA has 
established arrival and departure procedures so that pilots flying into 
or out of those two airports will not need to file ADIZ flight plans. 

And, at a dozen airports near the edges of the ADIZ, pilots will now be 
able to depart the ADIZ without first filing an ADIZ flight plan. However, 
they still will need to follow established ADIZ procedures when returning 
to those airports. To help pilots understand the changes and the rest of 
the regulations, AOPA has created an online guide 
( http://www.aopa.org/adiz/ ) to operations in the ADIZ. 

My hope is that these small changes for Bay Bridge, Kentmorr, and the 
fringe airports are a small step that leads to additional improvements 
and even the total elimination of the ADIZ. 

It's important for pilots to understand that the new procedures represent 
only a test that runs 60 days beginning November 1. Pilots have it in 
their power to make these procedures permanent or scuttle them altogether. 
Every successful, uneventful GA flight in the ADIZ bolsters our cause. 
And every incursion sets us back. So please, take advantage of the new 
rules, but don't abuse them.

Be assured, we are not under any illusion that things are back to normal. 
Even with these changes, the ADIZ, the special flight rules area, and the 
drastic restriction on the Washington "DC-3" airports still exist. There 
is much work to be done!

Sincerely,


Phil Boyer
President, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association


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