VIP travel may be seriously affected by FAA plans to limit GA ops during DNC convention

The Boston Globe is reporting that the FAA is in the final stages of their plans to secure the airspace around Boston during the Democratic National Convention. A planned 10-mile TFR with FleetCenter, the site of the convention, at its center, may seriously affect VIP travel plans in the area. Charter operations based out of the Boston area will also be affected.

Scheduled airline flights at Logan Airport will most likely be unaffected, but charter operators such as Cape Air are bracing for restrictions that may dash their hopes for a profitable convention. Because Cape Air's aircraft do not have secure cockpits with doors similar to those commercial airliners are now required to have, they may be classified as a security risk and find themselves unable to operate within the bounds of the TFR.

Corporate aircraft and media helicopters will also find themselves facing additional restrictions within a 30 mile radius of the convention site.

"We're trying to minimize the impact beforehand, but there's certain operations that will be prohibited," said Laura Brown, an FAA spokeswoman in Washington. "There may be some limitations on Cape Air. They'll definitely be allowed to fly, but there may be some restrictions on the time of day."

The DNC convention has been designated one of three national events this year classified as "national special security events" by the US Secret Service. The Republican National Convention in New York, and the June G8 summit in Sea Island (GA) are the other two on the list.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.boston.com/news/globe