FAA Modifying Restricted Airspace Over Nation's Capital Region

On July 26, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced in a press release that the current size and shape of the Washington D.C. Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) will be modified as of Aug. 30, 2007.

The Washington ADIZ was created in 2003 with the intent of temporarily tightening security in and around the nation's capital in light of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and ongoing heightened security measures nationwide. However, in 2006 the government proposed making the Washington ADIZ permanent, which lead to having to address the more than 20,000 concerns, opposition and general frustration that had come from the public and within the system itself. Among them were complaints that rules requiring every aircraft in the restricted airspace to be in constant touch with the controllers or risk an unwanted military escort, unduly burdened the air traffic control system.

As a result, the FAA collaborated with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to develop the changes to be made and coordinate the enforcement of the soon-to-be permanent ADIZ in the area of the capitol.

The ADIZ will be made circular, with a 30 nautical mile radius, and be reduced in size by 1,800 square miles. Currently, the ADIZ is irregularly shaped, which has been blamed for incidents of unsuspecting pilots mistakenly entering the ADIZ without authorization or being in compliance with the rules and finding themselves with a military escort to the nearest airport.

In addition to eliminating, or at least minimizing, accidental encroachments, the modification will make the airspace safer, more secure and easier for pilots to navigate by allowing them to us one navigational aid instead of the four they use now. The modification will also free 33 airports and helipads that are currently in the 1,800 square miles. The press release says this will make a significant reduction in the economic impact that being in the Washington ADIZ has on small airports and related businesses.

Marion C. Blakey is the FAA administrator. Blakey is quoted in the release: "Our aim is to balance vigilance with new measures that make it easier to track who belongs in this airspace and who does not." The modifications will certainly make it easier to track authorized flights and to identify any aircraft that's not in compliance with FAA rules or from an unknown source.

In addition to the modifications to the Washington ADIZ, the FAA is also adding four new positions at the Potomac Terminal Control Center (TRACON), the facility that essentially controls aircraft within a certain radius of the airport.

Source:

Press release, FAA Announces Changes to Make Restricted Airspace Over National Capital Region More Safe and Secure; http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=9251