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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, February 14, 2005
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) released the following statement today in response to an announcement by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that three the three general aviation airports, College Park Airport, Potomac Airfield and Washington Executive Airport/Hyde Field (DC-3) in Prince George's County will reopen on a restricted basis to pilots and planes based at other airfields. Congressman Hoyer has been the lead advocate for providing federal compensation for the devastating financial and economic losses suffered by the DC-3 airports which were severely impacted by the increased security measures taken after September 11, 2001.
“Subsequent to 9-11, the government issued temporary flight restrictions on the small aircraft of general aviation in the Washington DC metropolitan area as part of its effort to make commercial air travel safer and to restore the public's confidence in the security of our Nation's airports. Soon after, however, these restrictions were lifted for general aviation for every airport except Reagan National and the three DC area general aviation airports which remained closed to general aviation. As a result, these airports have been forced to nearly cease their operations, endangering the livelihood of their employees who have lost income and jobs and airport owners who have lost long-time customers and revenue.
“Thus, I was heartened by the TSA's new rule opening the DC-3 airports up to transient general aviation operators, providing access to the many general aviation pilots from around the US who have consented to abiding by security procedures.
“While this is a small development in the right direction, there are other issues on which I will continue to work with the TSA and Congress to resolve, the most important being the reimbursement of the DC-3 for the losses they incurred when the federal government shut them down.”
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