Wed, Sep 28, 2005
The Complete Text
September 26, 2005
The Honorable Marion Blakey
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20591
Dear Administrator Blakey:
On behalf of the 404,000 members, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association (AOPA) requests that the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) conduct one or more public meetings on its
Notice of Public Rulemaking ("NPRM") entitled "Washington, DC
Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area" in Docket No.
AA-2004-17005. The NPRM proposes to make permanent all of the
flight restrictions that currently exist in the Washington, DC,
area, including the requirements relating to the Washington Area
Air Defense Identification Zone ("ADIZ").
AOPA is currently drafting detailed
written comments on the NPRM and will submit those comments to the
Docket for the FAA's consideration by November 2, 2005.
In addition to providing the affected public written material
regarding the ADIZ, AOPA urges the FAA to convene public meetings
as an essential step before issuing any final rule. The opportunity
to provide oral comments in a public forum will allow the FAA and
Homeland Security officials to hear directly from members of the
general aviation community about the practical difficulties and
economic hardships the ADIZ causes to pilots operating in the
National Capital Area. It would also facilitate the federal
government's ability to ask both in-depth and follow-up questions
of those most operationally affected by the restrictions.
Reviewing written comments alone will not allow the FAA a full
opportunity to pose questions and explore alternatives. In fact,
AOPA would encourage the FAA to invite Department of Defense and
Homeland Security officials to attend the public meetings to
facilitate better understanding of the operational challenges
caused by the ADIZ. In short, AOPA believes that public meetings
will greatly assist the FAA's understanding of the full range of
issues presented by the ADIZ.
AOPA appreciates the opportunity to offer written comments on
the NPRM. We urge you to allow impacted pilots and operators to
participate actively in this rulemaking by scheduling by scheduling
public meetings before issuing any final rule.
Sincerely,
Phil Boyer
President
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