Sunday, October 21, 2001
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Sunday, October 21, 2001 |
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Airspace restrictions due to terrorism hurt aviation economy at Falcon Field By JOHN MUNFORD
Restrictions on airspace surrounding Hartsfield International Airport have reduced the total number of flights out of Peachtree City's Falcon Field ... and have cut the airport's fuel sales accordingly. Airport Manager Jim Savage said the restrictions have reduced the airport's fuel sales by approximately 40 percent. The trouble is that Falcon Field is inside a 35-mile radius of Hartsfield, which is considered class B airspace. With the new restrictions, aircraft operating in that zone must fly by instrument rules instead of visual flight rules, Savage explained. Instrument flight rules require that flight plans be filed before takeoff. The problem is that a number of local pilots are not certified to fly by instrument, or their aircraft are not certified to do so, Savage said. So those aircraft are essentially grounded until the restrictions are lifted. "It is having a major impact on us financially," Savage said. Fuel sales make up approximately 60 percent of the airport's revenue, he estimated. While it is understood that the restrictions are generally meant to protect against a possible terrorist attack, no specific such threats have been related to Falcon Field officials which would explain why the restrictions are necessary, Savage said. "We think the rules are unduly restrictive," Savage said. "We're not certain what it is they are trying to protect. We don't know what the perceived threat is." The enhanced restrictions on class B airspace were enacted for airspace surrounding the largest airports in the country, Savage noted. For some of those airports, the restrictions have been relaxed, but not at Hartsfield, Savage said. The airport at Cartersville is just outside the 35-mile restricted airspace around Hartsfield, where Falcon Field is just inside that boundary, Savage said. Associations representing pilots have lobbied U.S. Congressional officials to lift the restrictions based on the negative affect they are having on the aviation economy. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association believes the longer the restrictions are in place, "the more general aviation jobs and business will go under," according to Andy Cebula, vice president of government and technical affairs for AOPA. Hartsfield is one of 15 airports with the enhanced class B airspace regulations. Originally, 30 airports were required to follow those flight rules.
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