CAA: GA News, "Alabama airport official seeks revision of ban on flights"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Friday, November 2, 2001

North Alabama airport official seeks revision of ban on flights 
The Associated Press


DECATUR, Ala. (AP) -- Officials of an airport located between Decatur
and Athens are asking a federal agency to revise new restrictions which
have sharply curtailed flights there because of the proximity of a
nuclear power plant. 

The Federal Aviation Administration on Monday issued a temporary ban on
general aviation flights within a 10-mile radius, or below 18,000 feet,
of the nation's 86 nuclear plants because of concerns the plants could
be terrorist targets. 

The ban, which lasts until 11 p.m. Tuesday, allows law enforcement,
military, medical and rescue flights and some freight carrier operations
within the no-fly zones. 

Pryor Field, located off U.S. 31, is just within the no-fly zone for
Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant. 

"It's killing me," said Clay Smith, president and chief executive
officer of Decatur Athens Aero Service. Smith's company operates the
airport, which is owned by the cities of Decatur and Athens and Morgan
and Limestone counties. 

Since the ban began, the airport has only had 20 to 30 takeoffs or
landings from military and law enforcement planes and a few freight
carriers, Smith said. Usually during that period the airport would have
had between 250 and 325 takeoffs or landings, he said. 

Smith said he faxed requests to the FAA on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday requesting the agency pull back the no-fly zone line so planes
can take off or land. An FAA spokeswoman in Atlanta said she was looking
into the situation but did not have a response to questions from a
reporter Thursday afternoon. 

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