After an unprecedented two-day grounding of all civil flights, the USA on 13 September partially re-opened its airspace under extremely tight security. Private aircraft and helicopters remained grounded as Flight International went to press.
The reopening by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially allowed carriers to complete flights diverted from their original destinations, and permitted US and Canadian carriers begin to rebuild their route networks. The ban on operations to the USA remains in place for all foreign operators "until they demonstrate that they meet the new stringent security measures", says the FAA. As a result, it will take days before daily scheduled departures again approach the normal 40,000 mark in the USA.
Immediately after the terrorists struck, airliners approaching US-controlled airspace were prohibited from landing, with foreign airports, including many in Canada, forced to play reluctant host to hundreds of US-bound jets. US transportation secretary Norman Mineta says 2,100 civil transports flying domestic and international routes were on the ground within 2h of the directive.
The grounding stop order was lifted as airports complied with a range of new security measures, but Boston Logan, where two of the hijacked aircraft originated, remained closed.
The FAA allowed scheduled, charter and air taxi aircraft to resume flying. Federal Express, United Parcel Service and other all-cargo operators also were cleared to resume operations, but mail and cargo were temporarily banned from US and overseas passenger flights.
Using passenger manifests, passport records, car rental contracts and other sources, US law enforcement officials believe they have successfully identified most of the 18 hijackers, including several US-trained pilots.
Source: Flight International
