Thu, Apr 03, 2008
Violations Still Occur... But They Can Be
Avoided!
Ever since federal security officials imposed an Air Defense
Identification Zone (ADIZ) around the Washington, DC area in March
2003, general aviation pilots have been getting better and better
about not making mistakes and operating as required in the ADIZ and
its inner "no-fly" Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ).
However, two high-profile incursions into the FRZ during a
recent one-week period raised security concerns and prompted a
renewed pilot education campaign by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association.
"It’s been five years since this ‘temporary’
flight restriction was imposed and local pilots have learned to
just deal with it," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "But it’s
been long enough that pilots from outside the region flying through
the Mid-Atlantic may need a not-so-subtle reminder."
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation has
developed and sent to every fixed base operator within 400
miles of Washington, DC, posters and other materials to remind
pilots that they are within one gas tank’s range of the
National Capital Region and some of the most tightly controlled
airspace in the nation. The materials include posters and
kneeboard-sized checklists that tell pilots what the requirements
are for operating around Washington, DC and how to comply.
In addition, the AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s Know Before
You Go online airspace course is available free of charge to all
pilots, not just AOPA members, and includes a section on flying in
and around the Washington ADIZ. The course is available at the FMI
link below.
"The federal aviation regulations say it all – a pilot in
command must be familiar with all available information for every
flight," said Bruce Landsberg, executive director of the AOPA Air
Safety Foundation. "There’s simply no excuse for ADIZ
incursions to still be happening five years later. But they are, so
we’re taking it upon ourselves to help re-educate
pilots."
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