Don't Stumble Into Airspace

We have good news and bad news. The bad news is that the Baltimore/Washington Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) is still active. The good news is the FAA has finally decided to chart the darn thing.

AOPA reports that pilots who use the Washington, D.C. sectional and terminal area charts will see a significant change on the February 19, 2004, editions. The FAA will chart the ADIZ, hoping that it will reduce the number of airspace incursions. The flight-restricted zone within the ADIZ will continue to be highlighted as well.

"This does not mean the ADIZ is being made permanent," said AOPA President Phil Boyer, "and AOPA will continue to work to ensure that it isn't. But we, as pilots, must continue to do our part and not violate that airspace."

He noted that thanks to AOPA advocacy efforts, Congress requires FAA to justify the continuing need for the ADIZ every two months, or show steps taken to ease the operational burdens it creates.

The National Aeronautical Charting Office will use the same symbology for the Baltimore/Washington ADIZ as it does for the border air defense identification zones but will highlight the blue markings to stand out against the greens and blues of the sectional and TAC charts.

FMI:  www.aopa.org