AOPA: Change Extremely Disappointing and Unjustified

The Federal Aviation Administration has released its final rule making the Washington, DC Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) -- the only such zone within the borders of the United States -- a permanent fixture in American airspace. The change will come despite congressional inquiries, economic studies, more than 22,000 written comments from pilot in opposition to the rule, and an all-out effort by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association to convince officials that the ADIZ is an unreasonable, burdensome security restriction.

"It's extremely disappointing that the ADIZ -- something that was hastily implemented as a temporary measure -- has become federal regulation," said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. "We have never given up trying to eliminate the ADIZ, working with security officials, members of Congress, the White House, and the FAA."

The ADIZ, which was imposed in February 2003, in the weeks leading up to the Iraq War, will become the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area starting in mid- to late February. A similar ADIZ was imposed over New York City at the same time, but was rescinded in April 2003 as no longer necessary.

The dimensions and operational rules for the Special Flight Rules Area will remain the same as the current 30-nautical-mile-radius ADIZ remains the same, which extends from the surface up to 18,000 feet, and includes an outer ring extending to 60-nm in which pilots must observe an airspeed limit. Anyone who willfully violates the ADIZ will still be subject to criminal penalties.

Current special procedures that allow easier access to Leesburg Executive Airport in Leesburg, VA will not be part of the final rule, but will remain in effect by separate FAA action.

"Operationally, nothing changes for pilots," Cebula said. "But issuing an ADIZ final rule is a concern because a temporary flight restriction was imposed without consulting airspace users, and later made 'permanent' with no documented justification."

FAA and security officials have never provided a specific, intelligence-based threat assessment to justify to Congress or the pilot community the design of and procedures required in the ADIZ. Congress had called on security officials numerous times to testify about the ADIZ, whether it was necessary, and the economic impact it was having on airports in the area.

AOPA commissioned an economic study in 2005 that showed that 10 of the 13 airports analyzed inside the ADIZ were losing about $43 million in annually in wages, revenue, taxes, and local spending.

The association was successful in getting the size of the ADIZ reduced from its original "Mickey Mouse" shape that encompassed the Baltimore-Washington, DC Class B airspace to its current 30-nm radius. However, AOPA had also lobbied that it be further reduced to a 20-nm radius or outright eliminated because the government has never provided evidence that the ADIZ has resulted in any measurable increase in security.

"While this is a final rule," Cebula said, "circumstances and conditions evolve, and rules can be changed."

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.aopa.org