News Archive

AOPA Fly-in offers convenient ID process for access to DC-3 airports
Participants must register by May 30

Transient general aviation pilots can have quick access to airports inside the Washington, D.C., flight restricted zone once they go through an initial security and personal identification process.

Pilots in the Washington, D.C., area are jumping at the chance to complete part of the personal identification (PIN) process required to fly into the "DC-3 airports" at AOPA's Fly-In and Open House, June 4, in Frederick, Maryland. The two sessions being offered are more than 90 percent filled.

Unlike other airports that are open to and welcome transient general aviation pilots, the DC-3 airports — College Park Airport (CGS), Potomac Airfield (VKX), and Washington Executive/Hyde Field (W32) — were closed to all but based aircraft after the events of September 11, 2001. Transient pilots have only been able to fly into the DC-3 airports since February of this year, and only after they have completed a time-consuming initial security review and been issued a PIN that requires multiple trips to the airport they want to use, a trip to their FSDO, and a trip to Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA).

"The PIN process isn't difficult, but it requires a lot of time and driving," said Rob Hackman, AOPA manager of regulatory and certification policy. "We're consolidating the process and eliminating most of the leg work. After their session at Fly-In, pilots will just have to drive to DCA to be fingerprinted."

AOPA teamed with the Transportation Security Administration, Baltimore Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), and the College Park, Potomac, and Washington Executive/Hyde Field airports to offer this consolidated process at Fly-In. Pilots will have their government identification documents reviewed by the Baltimore FSDO and participate in a live security briefing, thus eliminating two of the trips to the Washington, D.C., area.

Those who wish to participate will need to preregister for the sessions by May 30 so that the Baltimore FSDO can perform a portion of the necessary airman record checks prior to Fly-In.

AOPA will offer two sessions during Fly-In: 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., but space is limited, and the classes are filling quickly. Send requests via e-mail to Rob Hackman, AOPA manager of regulatory and certification policy, along with your name, pilot certificate number, and which of the two sessions you want to attend. Pilots' names and certificate numbers will be sent to the Baltimore FSDO to allow officials to complete airman record checks on the applicants prior to Fly-In.

May 18, 2005