Government Restricts Airspace at 3 U.S. Landmarks for July 4

New York Times ^ | 6/26/02 | REUTERS

[kattracks]

ASHINGTON, June 26 — Temporary flight restrictions have been imposed around three national landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty in New York, for fear of possible attacks during the Fourth of July holiday, the Federal Aviation Administration said today.

The ban prohibits planes from flying around the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, it said.

The "no-fly zone" around the Statue of Liberty was imposed on Tuesday and bars flights within one nautical mile of the monument until September, said William Shumann, a spokesman for the aviation agency.

The agency prohibited all flights within four nautical miles of Mount Rushmore from July 3 to July 5 and within three nautical miles of the Gateway Arch on July 3 and July 4.

"Large crowds of Americans are expected to attend these sites during the July 4th weekend. We're just securing the area to prevent attacks of terrorism," said Larry Frederick, a spokesman for the National Park Service.

The Park Service was asked by the Interior Department to identify sites where large crowds gather on July 4, Mr. Frederick said.

Mr. Shumann said the aviation agency granted all requests from government agencies to invoke a no-fly zone; this one was from the Park Service, he said.

Mr. Shumann said the airspace around the Statue of Liberty and the Gateway Arch were among 30 sites already protected by a permanent Class B classification, which requires aircraft to seek permission to enter the airspace.

[Dog Gone]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Aviation Administration is banning flights near the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore and the St. Louis Gateway Arch during the July 4 holidays.

The FAA prohibition on flights near the Statue of Liberty began Tuesday. It will run through Sept. 30, banning all planes flying under 1,500 feet within a 6,000-foot radius of the landmark.

At Mount Rushmore, all planes flying under 10,000 feet above sea level will be banned between 12:01 a.m. local time Wednesday to 11:59 p.m. July 5, within a 4.5-mile radius.

In St. Louis, planes cannot fly lower than 3,000 feet from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time July 4 in a 3.4-mile radius around the arch.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which represents pilots of private planes, said the restrictions were issued because of concern about possible terrorist attacks over the Independence Day holiday.

FAA spokesman William Shumann said the bans were issued at the request of the National Park Service.

The FAA had banned flights over the World Trade Center site in New York City since Sept. 11, but removed the restrictions Tuesday because the recovery work had finished, Shumann said.

The agency also has reminded pilots not to circle around or loiter over conventional power plants, nuclear plants, dams, oil refineries, industrial complexes and similar facilities.

[varina davis]

The agency also has reminded pilots not to circle around or loiter over conventional power plants, nuclear plants, dams, oil refineries, industrial complexes and similar facilities.

Reminded??!! Demanded would be a better term, one would think.