[JYO] Powerful Maryland congressional delegation weighs in on "DC-3"


Mar. 11 — Maryland's "DC-3 airports," — three Washington, D.C. airports 
severely constrained for alleged security reasons — recently received major 
boosts from their congressional delegation. The Maryland delegation in the 
House, led by Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, <A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/030311letter1.pdf";>wrote to 
Transportation Secretary 
Norman Mineta</A>, urging him to consider AOPA's petition to restore normal 
operations.

AOPA filed <A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2002/021017petition.html";>the 
petition</A> with the FAA on October 18, 2002 requesting that 
College Park, Potomac, and Hyde Field be reopened to transient traffic, or at 
minimum, be permitted increased operations. At present, a mere 360 pilots are 
able to fly into the three airports combined, a fraction of the annual 
110,000 operations enjoyed by the airports prior to the airspace closure in 
September 2001.

The Maryland delegation in both chambers of Congress have been working with 
AOPA to restore operations. At a recent Budget Committee hearing on February 
13, dean of the delegation, Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.), fiercely questioned 
DOT Undersecretary Michael Jackson on Jackson's acknowledgment that "flying 
in and out of these locations [is] more burdensome...." "More burdensome!" 
Sarbanes rejoined. "It is in effect putting them out of business. Look, if 
you are going to treat them as acceptable collateral damage in the fight 
against terrorism, it seems to me that you ought to undertake some program of 
recompensing them ... they have had so many restrictions imposed upon them 
that they have in effect been closed for business."

Sarbanes and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), a member of the powerful Senate 
Appropriations Committee, have been working together in the Senate to draw 
attention to the plight of the "DC-3" airports as well as the other Maryland 
airports, all of which have borne the brunt of the airspace closures imposed 
since 9/11. Subsequent to the Budget Committee hearing, Sen. Sarbanes <A 
HREF="http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2003/030311letter2.pdf";>wrote 
to Homeland Security Secretary Ridge</A> questioning him on DOHS's intent to 
compensate the airports and the FBOs on their loss in revenues.

In the House delegation's letter, Maryland's eight members state: "In 
addition to the plight of these three airports with continued operating 
restrictions, we would remind you of the ongoing economic hardships suffered 
by the other small, general aviation airports in Maryland...."

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