CAA: GA News, "Two of Three DC-Area Airports Reopen"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Saturday, February 23, 2002

Two of Three DC-Area Airports Reopen


COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Two small airports near Washington that shut
down after Sept. 11 reopened Saturday under tight regulations, leaving
only one U.S. airport -- Washington Executive/Hyde Field in Clinton --
still closed by government order because of fears of terrorism. 

The Federal Aviation Administration allowed airports within a 15-mile
radius of the Washington Monument to start limited operations on
Saturday, provided they meet certain undisclosed security restrictions. 

Washington Executive/Hyde Field has yet to meet those standards. Airport
officials hope to pass the federal check by the end of next week, said
Larry Kelley, owner of Beacon Flying Service, an aircraft instruction
and rental service at the airport. 

The other two airports -- College Park Airport and Potomac Airfield in
Fort Washington -- welcomed take-offs and landings Saturday for the
first time since Sept. 11. 

The FAA's new regulations will be in place during a 60-day trial period.


The owners and managers of the airports say they have been nearly ruined
financially by the shutdown, which has cost them thousands in revenues
from lost fuel sales and airport fees. 

``We're pleased to be back in the air, but we also realize we've got a
lot of work ahead of us,'' said College Park Airport manager Lee Schiek
as he surveyed the empty runway from his office window. 

All general aviation planes -- noncommercial, nonmilitary aircraft --
were grounded on Sept. 11 by the FAA, which later prohibited flights by
such planes around major cities. Those restrictions were eventually
removed, but remained in a 25-mile radius around Washington. That
distance was gradually limited to 15 miles. 

Among the new rules, pilots will be required to file a flight plan, use
a confidential code that will allow them to be identified while in
flight and remain in contact with air traffic control while flying. 

``We wanted to restore private flying in the Washington area as much as
possible while countering any possible threats,'' said FAA spokesman
Fraser Jones.


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