Posted on 01/08/2005 3:56:03 PM PST by Robinson Winslow
GA banned from Washington, D.C., for inauguration D.C.'s mayor and AOPA's Boyer incensed over closures
For eight hours on Inauguration Day, Washington, D.C., and the skies for miles around it, will be completely off-limits to general aviation. Similarly, the streets of the nation's capital will be closed to vehicular traffic. Security officials have declared that President Bush's inauguration on January 20 is a "national security event," and the FAA, responding to orders from the Defense and Homeland Security departments, has issued a flight advisory prohibiting all general aviation VFR flight within or above the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
"This is yet another example of GA being made a scapegoat in the name of security," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "All the evidence shows that GA aircraft do not pose a significant security threat especially when compared to the devastation an airliner could cause. Yet the airlines are allowed to fly freely while GA pilots are essentially grounded."
The GA ban is in effect from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. The only exception is for IFR aircraft landing or departing Washington Dulles International and Baltimore-Washington International airports, but the FAA anticipates that the GA ramps at both airports will fill up with VIP aircraft. Once all the parking is taken, even IFR aircraft will be diverted to airports outside the ADIZ.
AOPA is not alone in questioning the over-the-top security measures surrounding the coming inauguration. Washington Mayor Anthony Williams has complained that multiple checkpoints and street closures imposed in advance of the inauguration are excessive, snarling traffic, damaging businesses, impacting tourism, and choking commerce in the capital city.
"The GA community understands the need for reasonable security measures around the inauguration," Boyer added. "What we don't understand is why the measures being taken for this inauguration are so extreme. These measures are unnecessarily displacing thousands of pilots, restricting their freedom, and resulting in loss of income for those who use GA to conduct their business."
AOPA continues to question the need for the ADIZ at all, arguing that it is an inappropriate "solution" to a nonexistent problem. "A small airplane weighing less than a large SUV and traveling at 120 mph just doesn't pose the same kind of threat or create as narrow a response window as a fully loaded airliner traveling at 400 mph," Boyer explained. "The ADIZ simply doesn't reflect those differences. All it does is restrict GA without doing anything to protect Washington and its citizens from terrorists."
January 6, 2005
I'll bet you were out there protesting Clintons closing of Pennsylvania Avenue for security reasons, weren't you?
And that wasn't for just a day you putz.
I guess I don't get it.
Why are they picking on Georgia?
(Ahem...*throat clearing noise*...)
I am not sure about the 200 mile thing maybe its within 15 minutes of the course, i dont know but I am pretty sure there is a limit , Maybe 150,000 at some of the tracks and I am sure there will be that many in DC that day. I advise you come early by Metro and be prepared to stay late.
Thank God the FReeper Patrol is manning Checkpoint Charlie into the American Sector.
By the way, Robinson Winslow aka Gert Fruchnicht, Jorge Casales, Cliff Elkins, et al, zotted again for trolling.
(Do I really need the sarcasm tag?)
Depends on the version. The later "Super Cubs" have a pretty good load capacity. However, all of them are made for two persons, so with a pilot only, the bomb could weigh as much as a person. That could hurt.
Actually, general aviation has been restricted for 20 or more years. Back when I was flying a Cessna 140, they started the "upside-down wedding cake" no-fly zones around a large percentage of airports in the US. I had to start going WAY out of my way to avoid flying illegally.
No, actually I think you are a homo.
Kinda strange how that works, huh?
Don't talk about homosexuals this way --show some tolerance!
And your prophesy shall come to pass. "For verily, as you have asked, so shall you receive" Zot 13:21.
So, just get in your widdle airplane and fly where you are legally able to fly.
/gagalertsarcasm
Ping for Aviation list
Excellent!
Thanks for posting this!
got enough acronyms in this post?
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