[IP] Once again, the Feds want to make "temporary" security restrictions permanent [econ]
Begin forwarded message:
From: Declan McCullagh <declan@xxxxxxxx>
Date: September 23, 2005 12:18:43 PM EDT
To: politech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Politech] Once again, the Feds want to make "temporary"
security restrictions permanent [econ]
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@xxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 )
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