The FAA has announced plans to modify the Charlotte Class B airspace to help contain aircraft on approach to the Charlotte Douglas International airport, but the proposal ignores many of the consensus recommendations from an ad hoc airspace user committee that included AOPA.
The proposed changes would establish Class B airspace over two heavily used general aviation airports, Lancaster County-McWhirter Field and Chester Airport, which is used primarily for skydiving.
“It is important to identify an airspace plan that preserves all of the current operations at these airports,” said Peter Lehmann, AOPA manager of air traffic services. “The FAA should consider alternatives that eliminate the need to establish new sectors of Class B airspace.”
The FAA has scheduled two public meetings on the proposed changes, and AOPA members are encouraged to attend. The first meeting is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2009, in the conference room at Concord Regional Airport in Concord, N.C. The second is set for Jan. 8, 2009, in the conference room at Rock Hill Airport in Rock Hill, S.C.
Pilots have until Feb. 9, 2009, to submit written comments to Mark D. Ward, Manager Operations Support Group, Air Traffic Organization, Eastern Service Area, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, GA 30320.
