Terrorist threat level reduced to 'yellow'

The federal government today reduced the terrorist threat level from "orange" to "yellow," or "elevated risk of terrorist attack." The Department of Homeland Security said that the decision was based on careful review of the specific intelligence that had first led to raising the level on February 7, new counter-terrorism measures, and the end of the Hajj, a Muslim religious period.

While changing the threat level doesn't directly affect pilot operations in most parts of the nation, pilots are still urged to remain vigilant for suspicious activities at airports. (See AOPA's Airport Watch for more information.)

In the Washington, D.C., area, AOPA has already contacted high-ranking FAA and TSA officials to urge suspension of the Washington Air Defense Identification Zone.

"The government used the 'orange' threat level as justification for implementing the ADIZ," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Now that the threat has been reduced, so should the airspace restrictions."

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