CAA: GA News, "General aviation resumes at a dozen additional metro areas"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Monday, October 22, 2001

General aviation resumes at a dozen additional metro areas
By Beth Lewandowski
Cable News Network


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- General aviation flights can resume starting Monday in a
phased approval at 12 additional metropolitan areas, federal regulators have
decided.

Such flights are broadly defined as those under the pilot's own control, and
not necessarily under the guidance of air traffic controllers.

After the September 11 airline hijacking attacks, restrictions were imposed
on private flights and many commercial flights, such as traffic planes and
helicopters, crossing big city airspace.

"This is another step in the FAA's phased program to safely restore full
access to U.S. airspace," Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Jane
Garvey said in a written statement Sunday. "We expect to take additional
actions to restore general aviation consistent with national security."

The agency announced flights by general aviation aircraft may resume
according to the following schedule:

   - Monday: Atlanta, Georgia; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, California;
Miami, Florida; and San Francisco, California.

   - Tuesday: Denver, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan; Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and San Diego, California.

   - Wednesday: Chicago, Illinois; and Orlando, Florida.

General aviation remains banned within 18 nautical miles of New York City,
Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington. This includes flying under both
visual flight rules and instrument-rated rules.

The restrictions on general aviation in 15 other metropolitan areas were
lifted last week.

The aviation industry welcomed the news. "This is an important milestone and
fantastic news for VFR pilots," said Airline Owners and Pilots Association
President Phil Boyer.

"But now our focus must turn to restoring operations in the three remaining
metropolitan areas and in getting the news and traffic reporters, banner
tow-ers, and other specialty operators back in the air everywhere."

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http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID2

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