FAA Announces Restoration of General Aviation to 12 More Cities
October 21, 2001
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that private aircraft may resume flying this week in the airspace around another 12 major metropolitan areas. Flights under visual flight rules (VFR) may resume according to the following schedule:

· Monday, October 22. Atlanta, GA; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA: Miami, FL, and San Francisco, CA.

· Tuesday, October 23. Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA, and San Diego, CA.

· Wednesday, October 24. Chicago, IL and Orlando, FL.

"This is another step in the FAA's phased program to safely restore full access to U. S. airspace," FAA Administrator Jane F. Garvey said. "We expect to take additional actions to restore general aviation consistent with national security."

In keeping with procedures established last week in 15 other major metropolitan areas, aircraft with encoding transponders will be able to fly VFR in the Enhanced Class B airspace around these 12 areas. Pilots of aircraft with the radio capability are instructed to monitor the guard frequency (121.5 MHz) while in Enhanced Class B airspace. Aircraft without transponders will be able to fly in Enhanced Class B if pilots first obtain a waiver. Enhanced Class B airspace is at least a 20-nautical-mile (22.7 statute mile) radius around a major airport and extends from the ground to 18,000 feet.

Current restrictions on VFR flying in three other major metropolitan areas - Boston, New York and Washington, DC - remain unchanged.

The FAA encourages VFR pilots in Enhanced Class B airspace to fly normally and to avoid aerobatics, circling or loitering, and unpredictable flight paths. The agency also urges pilots to check Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and to call their local flight Service Station at 1-800-WX-BRIEF before taking off.

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