Reagan Airport to allow general aviation flights
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- General aviation and charter aircraft flights will resume at Washington's Reagan National Airport, almost four years since the flights were stopped after the September 11 terrorist attacks, authorities said.
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey and Transportation Security Administration head David Stone are expected to make the announcement on Wednesday.
"This is great news for the entire region," said Rep. Tom Davis, R-Virginia. "This is a return to normalcy for Reagan National."
But Washington D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton -- who like Davis has fought to lift flight restrictions at the airport -- said the Department of Homeland Security plans to impose "needlessly cumbersome restrictions" on the flights.
According to an aviation source familiar with the plan:
Initially, the plan allows for only 48 operations a day, most likely 24 take-offs and 24 landings. More may be added in the future. Before September 11, 2001, the airport handled about 240 general aviation and charter operations a day. Participating aircraft must go through one of 12 "gateway" airports which have Transportation Security Administration screeners. An armed law enforcement officer must be on each flight. Officers will be trained by the Federal Air Marshal Service. Pilots and crews must undergo criminal background checks.TSA will require crew and passenger lists 24 hours before the flight so the names can be checked against no-fly lists. Airplane crews and passengers must be screened by the TSA. The aircraft must be checked by dogs that sniff out explosives.Norton said the flights could resume within 90 days.
Reagan National Airport was closed September 11 and remained closed to commercial air traffic for 23 days. When it reopened, flights were at first allowed to only eight destinations, but the government eased those restrictions over time.
Still, restrictions remain: only regularly scheduled airlines, some government flights and law enforcement aircraft can routinely use the airport. The federal government has granted waivers for special flights, including some carrying governors and other dignitaries.
On commercial flights into and out of Reagan, passengers cannot stand up during the 30 minutes before arrival or after departure.
The federal government owns Reagan National Airport and nearby Dulles International Airport, which are operated under a lease by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
CNN's Mike Ahlers contributed to this report.
