FAA Restores Private Flying in 15 Major Metropolitan Areas
Washington, D.C.
October 12, 2001
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that private aircraft may resume flying next week in the airspace around 15 major metropolitan areas. Flights under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) may resume each morning according to the following schedule:

Monday, October 15:
Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Memphis, TN; New Orleans, LA, and St. Louis, MO.

Tuesday, October 16:
Cleveland, OH; Dallas-Fort Worth, TX; Honolulu, HI; Minneapolis, MN, and Phoenix, AZ.

Wednesday, October 17:
Charlotte, NC; Cincinnati, OH/Covington, KY; Salt Lake City, UT; Seattle, WA, and Tampa, FL.

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

Aircraft with encoding transponders will be able to fly VFR in the Enhanced Class B airspace around these 15 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 a 20-nautical-mile (22.7 statute mile) radius around a major airport and extends from the ground to infinite altitude. Current restrictions on VFR flying in the other 15 major metropolitan areas with Enhanced Class B airspace 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.

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