Most "Orange" NOTAMs Canceled; TSA Agrees To Start Finalizing DC Ingress Procedures

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) concurred late Friday with calls by leading aviation organizations to suspend a number of airspace restrictions that were implemented when the national terrorist threat level rose to "orange" before the holidays. TSA and FAA has rescinded notices to airmen (NOTAMs) that put in place

• Gateway procedures at the Maryland 3 airports
• Suspended waivers in the National Capital Region (NCR)
• Suspension of waivers for sporting event stadium overflights and created a temporary flight restriction (TFR) in downtown Chicago.

The Valdez (AK) TFR will remain in effect until further notice. The Washington (DC) ADIZ ingress/egress test program will remain canceled for the time being, but only while FAA and TSA review the data collected during the 45 out of 60 days that the test was in place. The TSA and FAA will begin discussions next week to make the fringe airport program a permanent part of the ADIZ procedures. This action supports assertions that all indications at this time are that the test procedures were working well when the test was prematurely halted.

These recent actions confirms AOPA's and EAA's assertion that the greatest concern over aviation security is not general aviation, but threats to commercial aviation. The EAA says Friday's decisions by the federal government show the TSA isn't painting all of aviation with a single large brush when the intelligence does not support restrictions against GA.

Pilots planning to fly anywhere in US airspace should always seek out the latest information regarding airspace restrictions. The NOTAM for the Valdez area remains in place to deal with an ongoing security concern. Pilots should also be extra vigilant on and around airports and report any suspicious activity or people to the TSA's national General Aviation Security Hotline at 866/GA SECURE (866/427-3287). 

FMI: www.eaa.org, www.aopa.org, www.tsa.org