Thu, May 15, 2003
AOPA is worried... As President Bush ramps up for
his reelection campaign and continues to stump for his tax-cut
proposal, those responsible for his security have apparently
decided that general aviation is too great a threat to
allow anywhere near him.
The temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) that are created
whenever the President travels outside Washington, D.C., state that
"military, law enforcement, emergency medical aircraft, regularly
scheduled commercial passenger and cargo aircraft (emphasis added)
may operate within the area...." That wording deliberately
precludes Part 91 and most Part 135 (air taxi and on-demand air
carriers) from operation within the restricted zone.
"Always in the past, talking to air traffic control and
transmitting an ATC-assigned discrete transponder code was enough
to gain admission for GA aircraft," said AOPA President Boyer. "So
what has changed? Is there a specific and credible threat? If so,
tell us. Pilots understand national security concerns and will play
by the rules. But if not, give us back access to our
skies."
While
AOPA plans to continue to fight for more reasonable language in
Presidential movement TFR notams, pilots need to be aware that the
President plans to travel almost every day in support of his tax
proposal.
If you're planning to fly, you would be well advised to pay
attention to the news, and if the President is going to be anywhere
near your proposed flight path, ask specifically about temporary
flight restrictions in that area.
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