The hardest working man in general aviation just added to his workload (again). AOPA President Phil Boyer, continuing a "Take no prisoners" attitude in regards to continued assaults on the rights and resources of American aviation, has strongly opposed the closure of a key Flight Service Station to walk-in traffic. According to the FAA, the Leesburg AFSS flight plan area "consists of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland, excluding the panhandle area west of Hagerstown."

Reacting to the news that the Leesburg (VA) FSS, considered a pivotal source of critical information to pilots working the maze of Washington D.C. airspace, would no longer allow walk-ins; Boyer shared an internal AOPA e-mail exchange with ANN in which he noted that Leesburg was... "One of the few AFSS facilities in the COUNTRY that is well situated for walk-in briefings."

Phil decried the situation, complaining that "DC airspace (is) one of the most complex, needing a briefing, and (the FAA) close(s) it off..."

Boyer showed concern over this move in light of the "9 minute average waits on the telephone (which FAA states is 'acceptable'), and busy signals on VFR days."

Boyer, whose staff is in the process of formulating a formal response to this additional restriction and the imposition of yet another possible safety hazard, told his staff to "cry FOUL on this one."

More news to follow...

FMI: www.aopa.org, http://www2.faa.gov/ats/afss/leesburg/