The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is warning of widespread operational impacts following new federal restrictions effectively prohibiting business aviation flights at 12 of the nation’s busiest airports beginning Monday. The order, issued as a series of NOTAMs, closes access to facilities including Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, Los Angeles International and New York’s JFK. The NOTAMs specify that the airports are closed to all general aviation (GA) and non-scheduled aircraft, though they make certain exceptions for based aircraft, emergency, medical, law enforcement, firefighting and military operations.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said the restrictions will have significant implications for general aviation.
“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,” Bolen said.
These additional restrictions come as the U.S. ramps up to 10 percent flight reductions across 40 high-traffic airspaces nationwide. On Friday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy floated the possibility of raising restrictions to 20 percent if the government shutdown persists.
Bolen added that the situation highlights the need for congressional action to reopen the government and restore normal aviation oversight.
“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the rest of the aviation community in calling upon Congress to end the shutdown immediately, and for the NOTAMs to be repealed when the government reopens,” he said.
The group is working with other aviation stakeholders under the Modern Skies coalition to urge lawmakers to act without delay.
The full list of impacted airports includes:
- 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)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Where and how does the FAA get their insane and extremely discriminatory ideas like this? It is just about the same as if NHTSA invoked restrictions that only allowed big rig trucks and buses to use our highways. People would never stand for a restriction like that, yet theFAA gets away with restricting general aviation aircraft in the same manner. Scheduled carriers have absolutely no legal priority to the use of our air transportation system, yet the FAA, without any public comment input, creates severe restrictions like this against GA! The insanity of our government never ceases to amaze and disappoint me!
Most unfortunate, although most pilots hate flying into these airports anyway. The real joke here is why DCA was included in this list. It is already highly restricted to any GA flights, has been since 9/11.
“Scheduled carriers have absolutely no legal priority to the use of our air transportation system”
Nor does commercial shipping, barges, but they have priority in transiting Corp of Engineer controlled lock and dams on inland waterways.
In emergency situations such as the shutdown we are in where all air traffic cannot be accommodated at our busiest airports some logical criteria for prioritization is required. First come first serve isn’t logical. Inconveniencing the least number of travelers, and stranding the least amount of freight is a worthy criteria in allocating landing slots.
Even with commercial carriers a 787 carrying hundreds may get priority over a short haul regional commuter with a couple dozen onboard.