FAA proposes restricted airspace near Fort Sill, Oklahoma
The FAA has reacted to a request from the U.S. Army to establish a restricted area by proposing the creation of R-5601F for operations at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, but AOPA is questioning whether operations in that area warrant restricted airspace.
"The FAA's only justification for this proposal is that the airspace will be needed 'for aircraft conducting training at adjacent restricted areas,'" said Heidi Williams, AOPA director of air traffic services. "Restricted areas are created for operations that would be hazardous to non-participating aircraft, but there is no mention of any hazardous activities to be conducted in the proposed airspace."
AOPA is working with local pilots and Airport Support Network volunteers in that area to analyze the impacts on general aviation operations in the affected airspace.
The restricted area would fit between a military operations area to the north and multiple restricted areas to the south.
AOPA encourages members to comment on the proposal by the December 19 deadline.
Comments can be submitted online or sent to:
Docket Management System
U.S. Department of Transportation
Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, D.C., 20590-0001
Remember to include FAA Docket No. FAA-2005-22680 and Airspace Docket No. 05-ASW-3 at the beginning of your comments.
November 17, 2005
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