READ THIS NPRM NOW!

As noted in previous ANN coverage, the FAA has indeed published a highly restrictive NPRM designed to greatly rein in operations around a huge portion of the airspace near the Nation's capital. In addition to greatly expanding the airspace involved in the ADIZ, the document calls for the criminalization of willful infractions of these rules.

According to the FAA, "The FAA proposes to codify current flight restrictions for certain aircraft operations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. This action is necessary because of the ongoing threat of terrorist attacks. The FAA intends by this action to help the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense protect national assets in the National Capital region."

The deadline for comments is November 2nd, 2005... right before the start of the 2005 AOPA Expo (November 3-5, 2005)... which should make for a lively convention.

ANN will have much to say about this matter very shortly, but active links to the pertinent documentation are published below. We urge ANN readers to look over the NPRM for themselves and respond accordingly.

FMI: http://dms.dot.gov/search/document.cfm?documentid=341297&docketid=17005, http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/p81/341297.pdf, http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf92/341297_web.pdf