GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
The US Federal Aviation Administration has been accused of "inexcusable" discrimination against non-scheduled air carriers by keeping Washington National Airport closed to Part 135 operators. National has been closed to all but scheduled airlines since the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
The US National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has filed a petition with the FAA to reopen Washington National, arguing the continuing ban on Part 135 operations is causing "serious harm" to its members and the travelling public. Before an American Airlines Boeing 757 crashed into the nearby Pentagon on 11 September, a significant proportion of movements at National were non-scheduled operations, including corporate charters.
The petition argues the closure "unfairly, unreasonably and unlawfully" discriminates against commercial non-scheduled carriers, particularly as Part 135 operators of aircraft weighing 5,670kg (12,500lb) or more will be required to comply with a "state of the art" security regime under the US Transportation Safety Agency's new "Twelve-Five Rule", which takes effect on 1 April.
The NATA argues the Twelve-Five Rule removes the last barrier preventing Part 135 operators accessing National, by imposing a security regime similar to that in place for scheduled airlines operating into and out of the downtown Washington DC airport.
Part 91 operations by privately owned aircraft, including business jets, are also banned at Washington National, despite efforts by the US National Business Aviation Association and General Aviation Manufacturers Association to convince the TSA that GA is no threat.
Source: Flight International
