CAA: GA News, "Maryland airport allowed to reopen"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Friday, September 27, 2002

Hyde airport allowed to reopen
by Guy Leonard
The Gaithersburg (MD) Gazette


Hyde Field, a small airport in Clinton, has once again been allowed to
reopen after Transportation Security Administration officials closed it
for alleged security violations May 17. Hyde Field was the last airport
in the nation to remain closed since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. 

According to U.S. Rep. Albert Wynn's (D-Dist.4) of Largo, the TSA
announced the reopening Thursday morning.

"The closure of Hyde Field for nearly five months created a hardship not
just for the recreational pilots who used the airport but for those who
owned and worked in small businesses on the airfield," Wynn said. "I am
glad that the Transportation Security Administration finally gave us the
green light."

Chris Rhatigan, spokeswoman for TSA, said the management at Hyde Field,
working with TSA, had "been able to resolve the violations" that led to
the airport's closing.

She said management had erected a perimeter fence and that the Prince
George's County Police had agreed to take "an active and visible role in
enhancing security."

Rhatigan said the TSA would also oversee the airport for 180 days.

She did not divulge the security violations at Hyde Field, but said its
practices were now consistent with those at College Park Airport in
College Park and Potomac Airfield in Fort Washington.


   Post your opinion on this story in the CAA General Aviation Forum
http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID2

*****************************************