Ok, so now you can pee - What about the ADIZ?
So, does this make sense to you? You may not have to stay in your seat going into or out of Washington National. BUT, you sure can't fly a small plane there either. Nor can you fly a small plane anywhere near this lame defense zone you've already seen me ranting about before. So does this make sense?
As we all know, the 9/11 attacks were undertaken by those hijacking large commercial jets. The rule was put into effect so that if someone stands up so close to the White House and Congress, the flight crew would immediately divert to Dulles to prevent a possible hijacking.
So as these rules are slowly being relaxed back to pre-9/11 standards, can we get the rest of the airspace put back as well? Especially given that GA pilots are of such little threat? I'm not holding my breath.
30-Minute Airport Rule to Be Lifted:
U.S. authorities will suspend a rule that has kept airline passengers in their seats for 30 minutes while approaching or taking off from Reagan National Airport, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced yesterday as he unveiled a broad reorganization of his fledgling department.
The unpopular 2001 restriction has been rendered obsolete by security improvements, including hardened cockpit doors and armed federal air marshals aboard Washington flights, Chertoff said. Calling the change an example of the department's new flexibility, officials said they will lift the rule next week after issuing directives to airlines.