Less Restricted Airspace Over Nation’s Capital

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is modifying the restricted airspace over the Washington metropolitan area to make it safer, more secure and easier for pilots to navigate. The new, circular 30nm-radius restricted airspace eliminates the “mouse ears” shape of the current Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), allowing pilots to use a single navigational aid instead of the four in use today. That change, which will go into effect on August 30, 2007, frees 33 airports and helipads from the current restrictions in approximately 1,800 square miles of airspace, significantly reducing the economic impact on the general aviation community. The FAA coordinated the changes with the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon, which enforce the restrictions. The new measures will make it easier to track authorized flights and identify any aircraft that is not complying with the rules. The modifications to the shape of the restricted area and new, established procedures for certain flight operations are expected to reduce the number of unintentional violations on the outer edges of the ADIZ.  Meanwhile, the FAA is adding four new positions at the Potomac TRACON, the facility that supports security procedures in the ADIZ.