The Washington, D.C., ADIZ costs the 10 airports within it more than $43 million a year.
That’s how much those airports lose each year in wages, revenue, taxes and local spending because of the Air Defense Identification Zone, according to a new study from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
“The study shows that those most affected by the ADIZ are GA aircraft owners and pilots, and the businesses that serve this group, even though they pose the least threat,” said AOPA President Phil Boyer.
Total revenue at the impacted airports has dropped $27.5 million since 2003. More than 100 jobs have been lost, fuel sales are down nearly 20%, a flight school has closed, and many pilots have either stopped flying or have moved out of the area.
“It is clearly apparent that airports within the ADIZ have been negatively impacted (both operationally and economically) by the events of Sept. 11 and that their recovery had lagged the recovery experienced at airports outside of the ADIZ,” the study conducted by Aviation Management and Consulting Group and Martin Associates revealed.
AOPA — and nearly every other national aviation organization — is opposed to the FAA’s proposal to make the ADIZ permanent. The groups lobbied their members to submit comments on the proposal. When AOPA Expo kicked off earlier this month, 17,912 comments had been received.
The comment period was extended an additional 90 days and a public hearing will be scheduled on the proposal, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta told Expo’s opening day crowd.
“We’re still working on the details,” he said. “Your input is important as we tackle the big issues of protecting airspace and its growth.”
Comments on the proposal to make the ADIZ permanent will be accepted until Feb. 6. You can make comments online at DMS.dot.gov. Click on Comment/Submissions.
You do not have to be a registered user, so click Continue on the next page. In the Docket ID block, type FAA-2004-17005. In the Document Title block type Washington DC ADIZ. Comments are then submitted on the next page.
Not online?
You can mail your comments to Docket Management Facility, Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590-0001.