BTV named gateway airport

Burlington International Airport (BTV) in Vermont has been named one of 32 TSA-designated Gateway Airports in the United States, while Heritage Aviation received DCA approval as a charter operator and FBO. These combined approvals mean pilots and passengers can now fly directly to Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Airport from Burlington International Airport.

“We’ve been eagerly anticipating this permission from TSA,” noted BTV Director of Aviation Brian Searles. “Direct flight access to our nation’s capital is a key addition to our current flight selection, both in scheduled passenger carriers and charter carriers.”

Heritage Aviation President Chris Hill was also pleased. “Being an approved air charter carrier for D.C., this recent announcement allows us to fly directly from our BTV base to the closest airport to Washington D.C.”

In the wake of 9/11, general aviation was barred from using Reagan Airport. Four years after 9/11, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) opened DCA to corporate, charter, and general aviation through a complicated process called DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP). However, they could not fly into DCA directly but had to pass through one of a number of designated “Gateway Airports.”

In 2009, Heritage Aviation became a TSA-approved DCA Access Charter Operator. Heritage Aviation’s Fixed Based Operator (FBO) division received DCA approval the following year. The announcement of Burlington International becoming a “Gateway Airport” marks the final step for direct D.C.A. access compliance, FBO officials note.

For more information: FlyHeritage.com