AMA in Action 2013/07

Rich Hanson
provides answers
to your questions
on the governmentrelations
section of
our website: www.
modelaircraft.org/
gov. Visit this
regularly for updates.
Rich’s blog contains information on
timely topics and news items. Check
out the AMA government relations blog
at http://amablog.modelaircraft.org/
amagov. This complex issue affects the
entire aeromodeling community.
Advocating on your behalf
Washington D.C. Flight Restricted Zone.
Following the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001, concern
regarding national security resulted
in heightened security measures across
the country. The airspace around
Washington, D.C., underwent a number
of changes designed to tighten control
and restrict fl ying near the nation’s
capital.
In 2003, a temporary fl ight rules
area was created and was named
the Washington D.C. Air Defense
Identifi cation Zone (ADIZ). An ADIZ is
an area around US territories comprising
airspace over land or water in which
the ready identifi cation, location, and
control of civil
aircraft is required
in the interest of
national security.
The
Washington D.C.
ADIZ was created
by the FAA
in response to
recommendations
made by a
multiagency
group known
as the National
Capital Region
Coordination
Center. Congress has never legitimized
the restrictions created by this group;
however, any thoughts of opposing the
Executive Branch’s actions diminished
following two mishaps that led to the
evacuation of the
Capitol.
One incident
involved an airplane
carrying the governor
of Kentucky and
the other involved
a Cessna 150 fl own
by a student pilot
unfamiliar with the
ADIZ rules.
In 2008 the ADIZ
restrictions were
codifi ed in federal
regulation as 14 CFR
93, and in February
2009, the ADIZ
was changed from
a Temporary Flight
Restriction (TFR)
to a permanent
Special Flight Rules
Area (SFRA) with
an inner Flight
Restricted Zone
(FRZ), a highly
restricted area known as the “DC FRZ
(Freeze).”
The DC FRZ extends approximately
13-15 nautical miles (15-17 statute
miles) from Ronald Reagan Washington
National Airport. Flight within the FRZ
is restricted to governmental, certain
scheduled commercial, and a limited set
of waivered fl ights.
Although not part of the federal
regulation, a permanent Notice to
Airmen (TFR-0/8326) prohibits the
following operations within the DC FRZ:
“Flight Training, Aerobatic Flight,
Practice Instrument Approaches, Glider
Operations, Parachute Operations, Ultra
Light, Hang Gliding, Balloon Operations,
Tethered Balloons, Agriculture/Crop
Dusting, Animal Population Control
Flight Operations, Banner Towing
Operations, Maintenance Test Flights,
Model Aircraft Operations, Model
Rocketry, Float Plane Operations,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and
Unmanned Aircraft/Helicopters.”
At the time the restrictions were
emplaced, there were two AMA
chartered clubs within the DC FRZ: the
Goddard Model Airplane Club (MAC),
operating at the NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center, and the Far Away RC
Club, located at Anacostia River Park.
In April 2009, AMA requested waivers
for these two clubs to allow them to
continue operations within the FRZ.
A waiver was granted for the Goddard
MAC; however, the request for waiver
for the Far Away RC club was denied
because of its proximity to the Capital
Mall.
To date, aeromodeling activity at the
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is
the only model aircraft operation allowed
within the Washington D.C. FRZ. This
year AMA intends to submit a request
for a waiver for a new Park Pilot club
being formed in the Fort Belvoir area and
to resubmit its request for a waiver for
the Far Away RC Club.
—Rich Hanson
Government and Regulatory Affairs
Aeromodeling
restrictions
remain in e ect in
Washington, D.C.
14 Model Aviation JULY 2013 www.ModelAviation.com
AMAin Action Advocating for Members
014_MA0713_AMAInAction.indd 14 5/20/13 3:15 PM