(The Hill) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has implemented new restrictions on private flight operations at 12 major airports, amid concerns over staffing shortages and air safety during the ongoing shutdown, an aviation group said on Sunday.
National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen said the flight reductions were slated to take effect early Monday, at midnight EDT, and would “effectively prohibit” private flights at the airports.
The new flight limitations come after the FAA announced a 10 percent reduction in air traffic last week at 40 of the country’s busiest airports.
“Last week, restrictions were announced on all aviation operations, including general aviation operations, at 40 U.S. airports,” Bolen said in a statement.
“Today, further restrictions were announced that will effectively prohibit business aviation operations at 12 of those airports, disproportionately impacting general aviation, an industry that creates more than a million jobs, generates $340 billion in economic impact and supports humanitarian flights every day,” he continued.
The FAA confirmed to The Hill that it issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting general aviation operations at 12 airports.
Those include Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (BOS), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
“The FAA will allow exceptions for emergency operations, medical transport, law enforcement activities, and other necessary missions, and will adjust, extend, or cancel these restrictions as operational needs dictate,” the FAA said in a statement.
Bolen stressed the importance of air safety but pushed for Congress to reopen the government.
“Safety is the cornerstone of business aviation, and NBAA is fully committed to ensuring the safety of the NAS [National Airspace System],” Bolen said. “Among the ways we will do that is to ensure business aviation operators have an understanding of these restrictions and their implications.”
“Above all, this moment underscores the need to reopen the government to serve all Americans,” Bolen continued. “NBAA stands with the rest of the aviation community in calling upon Congress to end the shutdown immediately, and for the NOTAMs to be repealed when the government reopens.”
Following the FAA’s restriction announcement last week, flight reductions began at 4 percent on Friday and were slated to increase to 6 percent by Nov. 11 and to 8 percent by Nov. 13, according to the Department of Transportation. By Nov. 14, there would be 10 percent fewer flights in U.S. airspace.
The Senate took the first step Sunday night toward ending the funding stalemate in Congress, but final passage of the bill could be days away, and flight disruptions will not subside immediately.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday that between 15 and 20 air traffic controllers are retiring daily during the shutdown.
Source: Fox 8 News Channel