TFRs and Pilots Relaxed

Pilots in Washington State and Oregon can now enjoy a slight sigh of relief, now that some of the region's more intrusive TFR's have been relaxed. Imposed after the September 11th terrorist attacks, the flight restrictions affected a wide area covering:

• The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Naval Station Bremerton.
• The Naval Submarine Base Bangor.
• A weapons depot at Indian Island near Port Townsend.
• The aircraft carrier base at Everett (WA)
• The chemical weapons depot at Umatilla (OR)

The Pacific Northwest sites were among 11 restricted areas nationwide that were shrunk this week to ease restrictions on general aviation pilots. The recent changes are partly attributed to action taken by state legislators concerned about he TFR's drastic toll on aviation operations.

In a Dec. 16 letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Washington Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell said the FAA restrictions -- imposed at Rumsfeld's request -- "cause operational, access and efficiency challenges for civilian pilots." For example, "pilots can no longer use the Columbia River as a navigation reference" without deviating from normal flight paths, the lawmakers said. The restrictions also made it harder to fly in and out of four airports in the Seattle area and closed a seaplane base in Poulsbo, they said.

While the change come as great news to those pilots who have long complained on the intrusiveness of the restrictions many industry leaders are cautioning more changes are needed. "This is a good first step, but it's only a first step," said Phil Boyer, president of the AOPA. "All four of the Puget Sound (flight restrictions) have created navigational nightmares for pilots in the area." AOPA is also warning pilots to keep vigilant for these remaining restrictions and plan their flights accordingly. "While the restricted areas have been reduced in size, they were not eliminated, "and pilots still have to beware," Boyer added

FMI: www.aopa.org