Attack on Three DC-Area Airports Continues

We got a note from Lee Schiek, the embattled Manager of the College Park Airport (CGS). He, along with his brethren and fellow pilots at Hyde field and Potomac Airport, continue to live under a state of aero-siege with only minimal respite from outrageous restrictions that make little sense.

Lee notes that, "Three general aviation airports (the "DC-3") in the vicinity of Washington DC have been in a state of virtual lock-down since September 11, 2001.  College Park Airport (CGS), the world's oldest airport in continuous operation, Potomac Airfield (VKX) and Washington Executive-Hyde Field (W32) remain closed to all transient aircraft, and only local pilots that have received an extensive background check may use them. As a consequence, flight operations have decreased over 90%, resulting in devastating revenue losses and jeopardizing the future existence of all three airports."

Lee adds that, "For decades, these airports have been the aerial gateway to our nation's capital for tens of thousands of citizen-pilots. We are convinced that current operating restrictions can be relaxed and still be consistent with acceptable security considerations."

AOPA recently petitioned the FAA to review the federally mandated operating procedures of these facilities prior to a planned two-year extension of the restrictions, slated to become effective February 13, 2003.

ANN urges our readers to comment on this petition by going to: http://dms.dot.gov and entering Docket # 13623. The pilots and staff of these these airports remain hostages of Osama Bin Ladin and an overly-restrictive, unrealistic [and, dare we say, paranoid?] federal bureaucracy. As citizens, aviators deserve to be heard on this matter and to find relief from burdensome restrictions that offer no more than "feel good" restrictions that continue to harm those targeted by the terrorists of September 11th.

FMI: www.tsa.gov, www.potomac-airfield.com, www.aajp.com/maryland/airports/college.htm, www.avialantic.com/collpark.html