6 September 2002
Source: http://usinfo.state.gov/cgi-bin/washfile/display.pl?p=/products/washfile/latest&f=02090503.clt&t=/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml

Flight maps: http://www.faa.gov/ntap/SPECIALNOTAMS/specialnotamlisting.htm

US Department of State
International Information Programs

Washington File
_________________________________

05 September 2002

U.S. Announces Flight Restrictions for September 11

(Domestic and foreign airlines affected) (540)

The Transportation Department has announced temporary flight
restrictions for September 11 in connection with public events held on
the first anniversary of terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and
Somerset, Pennsylvania.

In a September 5 news release, the department detailed limits on
flying in areas around the event sites and special procedures for
airline planes departing from and arriving to all airports in these
areas.

It said that domestic and foreign airlines also will be affected by
special air traffic management procedures.

Following is the text of the news release:

(begin text)

U.S. Department of Transportation
September 5, 2002

Flying Restrictions for September 11 Events Announced

WASHINGTON – The U. S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) announced today temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) that will
be in effect on September 11, 2002. These restrictions will be in
effect in connection with public events that day in New York,
Washington, DC, and Somerset, PA.

During those times, there will be extensive limits on flying within a
30-nautical-mile (34.5-statute-mile) radius of the event sites at
altitudes below 18,000 feet. For airline flights into and out of all
airports in these areas, the "30-minute seat rule" will be in effect.
The rule requires that all passengers remain seated for 30 minutes
after takeoff and for 30 minutes prior to landing. This rule has been
in effect for flights at Reagan Washington National Airport since last
October.

General aviation or private flying will be banned or, in some cases,
limited to aircraft operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)
flight plans, which must be filed at least six hours before takeoff.
Sightseeing and training flights are banned, as are all Visual Flight
Rules (VFR) flights.

Special air traffic management procedures will be in effect for all
flights in these areas, including foreign airlines.

In the New York area, these restrictions will be in effect from 7 a.m.
on September 11 until 8 p.m. on September 13. There will be no general
aviation flying in the TFR areas before, during and after public
outdoor events on those three days. At other times, general aviation
flying will be limited to IFR operations. The 30th and 34th Street
heliports in Manhattan will have limited flying during the public
outdoor events. Times for these events will be announced later. For
pilots, the center of the 30-nautical-mile TFR will be the Ground Zero
site.



In the Washington area, the restrictions will be in effect from 8:30
a.m. until 11 a.m. on September 11. The Washington Monument will be
the center of the TFR zone. There will be no flying over or near the
Pentagon ceremony, and use of Runway 15/33 at Reagan Washington
National Airport will be restricted. IFR general aviation flying will
be permitted in the outer area of the TFR zone, not less than 15 miles
from the Washington Monument. All general aviation flying continues to
be prohibited within a 15-statute-mile radius of the Washington
Monument.



In Somerset, PA, the TFR zone will be centered on the ceremony site,
near the location of the crash of United Air Lines Flight 93. There
will be no flying over or near the ceremony.



An interagency working group that included the Office of Homeland
Security, North American Aerospace Defense Command, US Secret Service
and the Department of State, as well as TSA and FAA, developed these
restrictions.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)