Move To Reopen VKX Was "A Foregone Conclusion"

It's official: Aero-News has confirmed that Potomac Airfield, which has been in the spotlight of late as a kind of 'ground zero' in the Washington D.C. ADIZ crisis, has reopened for business as of 2:00 EST Friday afternoon.

"I got a call yesterday from the TSA, and then a couple of congressmen last night," said Airport Manager David Wartofsky. "Which serves as an example of the routes we've been pursuing, both political and operational."

As has been extensively reported in Aero-News, Potomac Airfield was closed by the TSA on November 2, over what the agency claimed was Potomac's "failure to comply with current security regulations." The other airports comprising the so-called "DC-3" -- Maryland's College Park Airport and D.C.'s Hyde Field -- remained open, and handled many of the aircraft that had been displaced from Potomac.

In a statement released the next day -- which, just as with the TSA statement, was published unedited by Aero-News -- Wartofsky (above) replied "[a]irspace security in the national capital area is provided by multiple agencies. Rather than address the more significant long-standing problems, unfortunately in this case, TSA has chosen the least effective route."

"While Potomac Airfield has continually improved security, through improving plans approved by TSA, and by incorporating security measures already in place for other operators in the National Capital Area, TSA has withdrawn its approval for reasons that are not clear," wrote Wartofsky in the November 3 statement.

As recently as last week, the FAA had issued a TFR reminding pilots that VKX was shut down, with no end in sight... or so it appeared on the outside, as Wartofsky, evidently, never doubted what the end result would be.

"I'm not sure if congratulations are called for," Wartofsky told ANN Friday. "There's no point in congratulations over a foregone conclusion."

While the lifting of restrictions means pilots may now once again utilize Potomac -- after going through a lengthy screening process that includes prior approval of all operations at the field by the TSA -- Wartofsky said the greater victory has been the simple fact all parties involved (including but not limited to Wartofsky, the TSA, and the FAA) are talking with each other again.

"What's more important than having the air field open, is that we now have a constructive dialogue," he said.

"The good guys always win," he added, "when everyone's a good guy, and you just need to figure out what the other guys need."

FMI: www.potomac-airfield.com