This is only tangentially relevant to technology but it shows the encroachment of bureaucrats and the national security. In this case, "temporary" airspace restrictions that do little to stop terrorists but quite a bit to terrorize law-abiding private pilots are about to become permanent -- and perhaps even expanded. This isn't new. New York's rent control law was supposedly temporary but is now permanent. The expire-in-four-years portions of the Patriot Act are about to become permanent. "National emergencies" were supposed to be temporary but have become permanent. (http://www.politechbot.com/p-04154.html) The Spanish American War telecom tax was supposed to be temporary but has become permanent (and is now causing problems for the Internet). See: http://www.politechbot.com/2004/07/06/irs-voip-taxes/ More on DC-area airspace folly: http://www.politechbot.com/2005/05/11/seater-airplane-brings/ -Declan --- -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Urgent message from Phil Boyer: AOPA fights permanent ADIZ Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 17:10:15 -0400 From: AOPAPRESIDENT@private ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Notice from AOPA President Phil Boyer September 14, 2005 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ==> ATTENTION BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON, D.C.-AREA PILOTS <== AS MANY OF YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE, THE FAA IS PROPOSING A NEW RULE THAT WOULD MAKE PERMANENT THE CURRENT "TEMPORARY" AIRSPACE RESTRICTIONS IN OUR AREA. THIS SPECIAL E-MAIL MESSAGE IS TO INFORM YOU WHAT AOPA IS DOING IN RESPONSE TO THE FAA's RECENT NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING (NPRM), AND KEEP YOU UPDATED ON OUR EXTENSIVE PLANS, ALREADY UNDER WAY, TO CHALLENGE THE PROPOSAL. All of us who fly in this area know that the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) was created over a weekend in February 2003, in response to a heightened national threat level. It was a sudden move and was explained as a temporary restriction. But when the government later reduced the national threat level, the ADIZ remained. AOPA has been working to have the ADIZ eliminated--or reduced--ever since. THE FAA's NPRM IS NOT A SURPRISE (WE HAVE EXPECTED IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS), BUT IT IS AS ILL CONCEIVED AS THE ORIGINAL ADIZ. I personally want you to know that we have and are continuing to dedicate enormous resources to make very clear to the FAA, TSA, Department of Homeland Security, and Congress all of our concerns about the ADIZ and its onerous effects on D.C.-area pilots. In a series of uncanny coincidences, our efforts over the past two years to counter the ADIZ have been frustrated by events like terrorist warnings, increased security levels, and high-profile airspace violations, such as the "Smoketown 150," that caused the evacuation of the Capitol on May 11. Despite ongoing pressure from pilots and AOPA, the ADIZ still exists. And now the FAA wants to make it permanent. The only "good news" in all this is that the federal process of rulemaking allows individuals from across the country to formally oppose an FAA proposal. This is important to all pilots because, if the ADIZ is made permanent, EVERY PILOT IN THE COUNTRY FLYING IN OR NEAR CLASS B AIRSPACE (there are 29 other such areas) COULD FACE THE SAME RESTRICTIONS. This is not a vague threat: As this e-mail is being written the New York Class B airspace has become an ADIZ. By far, general aviation's greatest strength is AOPA's 406,000 members. And because there is strength in numbers--strength and power of opinion--WE INTEND TO USE YOUR VOICES TO FIGHT THIS ONEROUS AND UNNECESSARY AIRSPACE RESTRICTION. THE FAA NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU so they fully understand how difficult it is to operate in and near the ADIZ--to file a flight plan by telephone with flight service (FSS), then obtain a discrete transponder code, and establish and maintain communication with air traffic control--A PROCESS THE FAA IS TERRIBLY UNDERSTAFFED AND ILL-EQUIPPED TO HANDLE. In the coming weeks you will receive a nationwide appeal that will be mailed to all AOPA members asking them--and you--to comment directly to the FAA and to members of Congress before the November 2 close of the ADIZ NPRM comment period. Our own ongoing efforts and asking our members to help in this way are but two parts of our strategy. Your association has engaged two of Washington, D.C.'s most powerful lobbying organizations to complement our efforts. These preeminent firms include--and have working on your behalf--a former secretary for the Department of Transportation (a cabinet-level position) as well as a former deputy assistant undersecretary of the TSA, the former general counsel for the DOT and its former deputy secretary. AOPA also has hired a noted expert whose company is currently conducting a comprehensive analysis of the economic impact on pilots, airports, and aviation businesses that have been affected by the ADIZ. We feel this issue is so important that we must use any and all resources available at this time. All of this is in addition to your association's professional staff in Frederick, Maryland, and Washington that has battled the ADIZ as well as a wide range of other issues that affect your freedom to fly…and continue to do so on a daily basis. Make no mistake: THIS IS A VITAL ISSUE FOR YOUR ASSOCIATION. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate the one-size-fits-all requirements of the ADIZ that completely fail to recognize the stark differences between a 400,000-pound, 400-knot airliner and the far lighter and much slower aircraft that our members fly. Incredibly, there is presently no distinction between these very different aircraft in terms of security, operation, and safety issues. BE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO OUR CALL FOR ACTION. I hope this update accomplishes its intended purpose--to let you and all D.C.- area pilots know of the ongoing AOPA strategy and tactics uniquely supported by the upcoming Pilot Alert to all members throughout the country. Thank you... Phil --------------------------------- AOPA sent you this important message because you subscribe to "AOPA ePilot." If you do not wish to receive non-ePilot messages in the future, reply to this message and type "SUPPRESS" in the subject line. AOPA, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701 Telephone: 800/USA-AOPA or 301/695-2000 ( http://www.aopa.org ) _______________________________________________ Politech mailing list Archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Moderated by Declan McCullagh (http://www.mccullagh.org/)
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