NBAA Advances Efforts to Minimize Effects of TFRs on Business Aviation Community

Contact: Cassandra Bosco

Washington, DC, July 28, 2004 – Due to a projected increase in temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) expected in the months leading up to the presidential election on November 2, 2004, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is advancing its efforts to work closely with government agencies to mitigate the effects of TFRs and their impact on the NBAA Membership.

As of this Friday, July 30, the Democratic nominees for president and vice president, Senators Kerry and Edwards, will be eligible to receive U.S. Secret Service protection similar to that of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Once that protection is offered, it will result in at least a doubling of the FAR Part 91.141 TFRs affecting business aviation operators, which likely will increase even further as Election Day nears. In addition, NBAA expects increasingly shorter lead times for notification of 91.141 TFRs. The complex, late-notice TFRs will appear nationwide, but are most likely to emerge in election battleground states such as Florida, Iowa, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

NBAA is addressing this issue in several ways. First, as part of its Secure Access initiative, NBAA is pressing the Bush Administration and Congress to implement and fund an appropriate general aviation security program for qualified operators. In addition, NBAA continues to urge the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to expand the TSA Access Certificate (TSAAC) Program, which may grant TSAAC holders access to TFRs equivalent to scheduled air carriers.

Additionally, more than 2,100 NBAA Members currently are subscribed to NBAA’s Airspace Alerts e-mail list as a source to keep them informed about current and potential TFRs. The NBAA General Aviation (GA) Desk, based at the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Herndon, VA, is another resource for assisting Member operations in the National Airspace System. Tailored, aircraft-specific information is provided to Members on a subscription basis.

NBAA Members may subscribe to the Airspace Alerts list for free online at web.nbaa.org/member/ops/airspace/alerts, and more information about the GA Desk is available at www.nbaa.org/gadesk.

Finally, NBAA publishes notices about emerging TFRs, airspace alerts and NOTAMs on its web site at www.nbaa.org/airspace/restrictions.

For more information about business aviation security issues, contact Dick Doubrava, NBAA director, security, at (202) 737-4485 or rdoubrava@nbaa.org.

NBAA represents the aviation interests of more than 7,600 companies that own or operate general aviation aircraft as an aid to the conduct of their business, or are involved with business aviation. NBAA Member Companies earn annual revenues approaching $5 trillion — a number that is about half the gross domestic product — and employ more than 19 million people worldwide. The NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention is the world’s largest display of civil aviation products and services.

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