9/19/01 1:30:03 PM, ET — AOPA has learned that FAA will issue a
notam today between 4 and 6 p.m. ET that will permit the resumption
of some VFR operations. AOPA President Phil Boyer has
talked at length with FAA Administrator Jane Garvey and the head of
FAA's Air Traffic Services. They had just come from a meeting with
Department of Defense and national security officials.
"We made some progress towards more VFR flight," Garvey
told Boyer. But she said that VFR privileges would not be
restored all at once. "As Secretary of Transportation Mineta
has already said, there will be a series of phase-ins, with
operations restored incrementally."
Garvey said that FAA will continue daily meetings with national
security officials, and that the agency will continue work to free
up more types of VFR operations.
"If you don't like what you hear today, just stay
tuned," said Boyer. "More privileges will be restored as
time goes on. And AOPA will be there to make sure that the needs of all
pilots are addressed, if not today, then tomorrow."
The notam will not be issued until this afternoon in order to
give FAA time to brief all Flight Service Stations on exactly what
flight operations will be permitted. AOPA had criticized FAA for not
keeping FSS personnel completely informed. FAA is now sending
twice-daily faxes to all FSSs so the briefers can provide accurate
information, not rumors, to pilots.
AOPA has installed its Vice President of Air Traffic Services,
Melissa Bailey, at FAA headquarters to ensure that FAA understands
the operational needs of general aviation pilots and that the notams
are clear and consider all possible circumstances.
"We also now have a better idea of what national security
officials are trying to protect," said Boyer. "All of us
can easily understand that they want to protect the major U.S. urban
areas which contain our nation's financial and government centers.
They are also concerned about hub airports and commercial airline
passengers.
"They also have a continuing concern about civilian flight
training, which frankly, we have a little more difficulty
understanding," said Boyer.
AOPA will update this web site with the specifics of the VFR
notam as soon as it is released.