The FAA has now agreed to at least consider less restrictive alternatives to new Class C airspace around the island of Nantucket south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The FAA had previously said that establishing Class C airspace around the island was the only option for dealing with increased aviation activity during the summer. But at informal airspace meetings August 20-21 in Hyannis and Nantucket, the FAA conceded that it had not followed through on trying less restrictive options proposed by AOPA (see "AOPA opposes restrictive airspace around seasonally busy Nantucket Island, offers simpler solution").
The FAA promised that it will publish the boundaries, altitudes, and radio frequencies for "Cape Approach" on VFR sectional and WAC charts so that transient pilots can take advantage of radar traffic advisories. AOPA proposed that almost one year ago.
FAA regional officials also said they hadn't realized before that they could also consider the option of a less restrictive terminal radar service area (TRSA), another AOPA proposal. Although radio participation in a TRSA is voluntary, most pilots do choose to participate. TRSA boundaries and frequencies are clearly depicted on aviation charts. (See Airspace for Everyone for more on TRSAs and Class C airspace.)
AOPA representatives at the meetings again argued against establishing Class C airspace around Nantucket Memorial Airport.
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