Mon, Jan 20, 2003
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.
More News
With Testing Soon Complete, Launch Preparations Begin in Earnest Sierra Space's Dream Chaser has been put through the wringer at NASA's Glenn Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio, but w>[...]
Takeoff Roll The process whereby an aircraft is aligned with the runway centerline and the aircraft is moving with the intent to take off. For helicopters, this pertains to the act>[...]
“We’re proud of the hard work that went into receiving this validation, and it will be a welcome relief to our customers in the European Union. We couldn’t be mor>[...]
"Aircraft Spruce is pleased to announce the acquisition of the parts distribution operations of Wag-Aero. Wag-Aero was founded in the 1960’s by Dick and Bobbie Wagner in the >[...]
IDENT Feature The special feature in the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATCRBS) equipment. It is used to immediately distinguish one displayed beacon target from other be>[...]
Sierra Space Repositions Dream Chaser for First Mission
See All