AOPA Executive Testifies On ADIZ Problems And More
(AOPA Senior Vice
President for Government/Technical Affairs, Andy Cebula, testifies
before Congress Thursday on general aviation security. One
important aspect of his testimony will be what the AOPA considers
the utter failure of the Washington ADIZ. Here are some excerpts.
--ed.)
It is absolutely essential, that any security requirements do
not eliminate the very industry they are designed to protect. If
that occurs, the terrorists have won. Many pilots are asking this
very question about the airspace restrictions in the
Baltimore-Washington, DC area (National Capitol Region). Just last
week, over 5,000 pilots visited our headquarters in Frederick
Maryland and the most discussed topic was the flight restrictions
around the National Capitol Region.
Expanded Use Of Temporary Flight Restrictions
To understand the general aviation perspective on the National
Capitol Region airspace, it is important to recognize that prior to
9-11, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) were issued, but were
typically smaller, shorter duration, and did not come with the
severe penalties for violations. Today, a pilot can face FAA
enforcement action including the loss of their pilot certificate
and the extreme prospect of loosing their life by being shot down
for violating a TFR. As an example of the magnitude of airspace
restrictions, anytime the president travels a 30-mile TFR is
established. Last year there were over 200 of these TFRs.
National Capitol Region - Airspace Restrictions
While much of the
emphasis on general aviation has been access to Washington Reagan
National Airport and this Committee is to be commended for its work
to reopen this airport to general aviation the majority of AOPA
members are concerned about the airspace restrictions around the
National Capitol Region. As illustrated in the chart, there are two
areas of airspace restrictions on general aviation operations
created since 9-11, the inner ring Flight Restricted or "No Fly"
Zone (FRZ) and the outer Air Defense Identification Zone
(ADIZ).
Flight Restricted Zone - Sensitive Areas Of The Nation's
Capitol
In the days following 9-11 the FAA implemented a total ban on
general aviation operations in the 15-mile radius FRZ, sometimes
referred to as the "No-Fly-Zone" that extends from ground level to
18,000 feet around Washington, DC. In February of 2002, the FAA
partially lifted this ban by allowing limited operations at College
Park and Potomac Airports, as well as Hyde Field in Maryland. Until
then, no general aviation aircraft could operate to or from these
airports, referred to as the "DC-3" unless the aircraft was based
at the airport prior to 9-11 AND the pilot has undergone FBI
fingerprinting and criminal history record check before being
permitted to operate under very strict flight rules. This meant
that all three general aviation airports were closed to all but 300
based aircraft since 9-11.
For many AOPA members the DC-3 airports were the aviation access
point to the Nation's Capitol, essentially the light aircraft
operator's Washington Reagan National Airport. That is why we were
pleased when the TSA in February of this year allowed vetted
transient pilots to apply to operate at the DC-3 airports. These
pilots must undergo the same rigorous background check as pilots
based at the airport. Pilots are required to complete an FBI
fingerprint background check and security training prior to
receiving a unique PIN code to operate in the FRZ.
Underscoring the importance of these airports to AOPA members, just
this past weekend, over 180 pilots took advantage of the
opportunity to complete two of the three required steps by
participating in a seminar held during AOPA's Fly-In.