Gov wants to Permanently Restrict Airspace over D.C.+wide area

[katty]

continue at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/03/AR2005080301798_pf.html

By LESLIE MILLER
The Associated Press
Wednesday, August 3, 2005; 8:10 PM


WASHINGTON -- The government wants permanently to restrict a wide swath of airspace over the Washington area and make it a crime if a private pilot knowingly enters a zone that extends from Maryland to Virginia.

Pilots have strayed hundreds of times since the government temporarily restricted airspace over the capital just before the start of the Iraq war in 2003. In many cases, fighter jets, which are prepared to shoot down a plane, have escorted an errant plane to an airport.

The FAA, in a notice to be published on Thursday, said the restrictions are necessary because of the continuing threat of terrorism.

"The success of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon and reports demonstrating terrorist groups' enduring interest in aviation-related attacks indicate the need for continued vigilance in aviation security," the FAA said.

[getmeouttahere]

1. From Maryland to Virginia?

There are no words...

[Ready4Change]

2. These restrictions will never be worthwhile.

Two reasons:

1. Terrorist aren't going to use the class of aircraft being restricted.

2. With "Reagan" National airport remaining just across the Potomac, the very class of vehicles terrorists are most interested in used will still be mere seconds from crashing into the Mall.

I'll believe these restrictions are something more than political hay when they shut down Reagan National.

[neuvocat]

3. Its getting shut down?

I had no idea...

[Ready4Change]

6. No it's not being shut down. And that's the problem.

They are restricting private citizens from flying private aircraft, most of which weight less than a Ford Taurus, while keeping open an oudated airport which brings in a constant stream of the very type of vehicles the terrorists used on 9/11.

The best thing they could do to help avoid a 9/11 style attack on Washington DC is shut down Reagan National.

Restricting the airspace does absolutely NOTHING to address the real problem. Nothing.

[AlGore-08.com]

4. There have been a few individuals who tried to attack the White House

using small planes - - one during the Nixon Admin, and one during the Clinton Admin.

[54anickel]

5. Why not? Can we invoke it before the idiot returns from the pig farm?

Make it completely off limits to any aircraft.