Thu, Feb 20, 2003
The FAA and US Secret Service have approved a
four-mile exemption radius for Killeen (Texas) Municipal Airport,
adapting a temporary flight restriction (TFR) that had curtailed
operations and created safety hazards at that local airfield.
The flight restriction was adopted as a security measure when
President Bush is present at his ranch near Crawford, Texas, about
30 miles away. The restricted area borders just 700 feet from the
north end of Killeen's lone runway. When the restrictions were in
effect, VFR pattern work, flight training and practice instrument
training were prohibited. Pilots had to conduct takeoffs and
landings to the south, which created potential air traffic and wind
condition safety hazards.
EAA requested relief for Killeen Municipal Airport on behalf of
local pilots led by EAA member Jim Livingston. EAA Washington
Office Director Doug Macnair worked with federal officials in
Washington, D.C., to show the unique circumstances that burdened
the Killeen facility and possible solutions.
"This may seem like a small victory to aviators throughout many
parts of the nation, but it's a big relief for those who fly at
Killeen," said Earl Lawrence, EAA Vice President of Government and
Industry Relations. "This is an example of what EAA has been
emphasizing: That proper security measures must be balanced with
common sense."
The FAA NOTAM involving Killeen allows an exemption from the
Crawford "P-49" Restricted Area in a four-mile radius from the
center of the airport. The update will be included in FAA's next
Crawford TFR notice. Lawrence also reminded all aviators that
extremely high standards of responsibility and airmanship will help
keep such exemptions in place and lay the groundwork for possible
future efforts.
"This relief, along with the recent small improvements in the
Washington/Baltimore airspace, are important tests for general
aviation pilots," he said. "Federal authorities are watching how we
handle these exemptions. If aviators continue to show that we can
observe these regulations, it will open the door for additional
flight-restriction reductions."
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