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

FMI: www.aopa.org