Flight Planning
Pilots mount ADIZ education campaign at Leesburg
Local pilots in conjunction with the Leesburg Executive Airport Commission in Virginia have mounted a comprehensive campaign to address airspace violations in a special maneuvering area within the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
During a regular commission meeting on Feb. 4, a group of based pilots came up with a list of actions, which have now been completed. They have contacted Airguide Publications Inc. and AirNav.com to ask for additional markings in flight planning resources; asked the town of Leesburg to revise its airport Web page to highlight ADIZ information; changed the AWOS recording to include a cautionary note; and put up posters in strategic spots to explain procedures.
Other steps are being taken, such as ordering signs for the run-up areas that say, “Do Not Squawk 1200”; printing brochures for transient and based aircraft; welcoming FAA safety briefings; and doing training for flight school students.
The FAA is apparently pleased so far with the public education campaign. The agency was threatening to take away the maneuvering area if things didn’t improve.
Since the ADIZ redesign went into effect last September, there have been 87 ADIZ violations, 20 of those occurred in the maneuvering area. Most of the maneuvering area infractions were caused by Leesburg-based pilots squawking a 1200 code.
For more information, including links to the FAA’s ADIZ online course and operating procedures at Leesburg airport, see our ADIZ resources.
February 21, 2008
