AOPA is expressing concern about proposed changes to the Houston Class B airspace. The FAA says it needs to lower the floor of the airspace "shelf" to protect "tri-multaneous" approaches to three runways at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas.
"Although proposed changes are minor, AOPA believes they could compress VFR traffic circumnavigating the airspace into a smaller area, increasing the potential for aircraft conflicts," said AOPA Associate Director of Air Traffic and Regulatory and Certication Policy Heidi Williams. "They could also impact charted VFR flyways and satellite airports."
To ensure fair treatment of general aviation, AOPA has been involved in discussions regarding proposed modifications to the Houston Class B airspace. In June, AOPA participated in an ad hoc airspace working group to discuss potential airspace changes related to the Houston Gulf Coast Airspace project and has submitted comments on the initial draft Class B changes.
In a continued effort to involve Houston airspace users, the FAA recently announced informal airspace meetings to solicit input on the proposed changes.
AOPA encourages pilots to attend the upcoming meetings to provide input to the FAA on the impact the change would have on local air traffic operations.
The kick-off meeting is scheduled for October 15, 2002, at William P. Hobby Airport. Additional meetings will be held on October 16, 2002, at North Harris College, Academic Room 126, and October 22, 2002, at the West Houston Airport. All three meetings are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
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