NAVIGATING THE MOST RESTRICTED AIRSPACE IN THE WORLD
A
FTER THE EVENTS OF SEP. 11, 2001, flying in and around Washington, D.C., including over monuments and federal buildings, became nearly impossible. Flight
paths were changed and approaches radically altered to protect the White House, the US Capitol, and the thousands of federal workers in the city. In this airspace—one of the most restricted and closely monitored in the world—only pilots with special permission based on background checks and interviews can fly. Because of these restrictions, most flights over the city are air medical, military, or law enforcement missions. On May 11, 2024, I had the opportunity to fly in that
airspace at 1,000 ft above ground level (AGL). The event, the National Celebration of General Aviation D.C. Flyover, was part of the 85th anniversary celebration of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). The flight also demonstrated general aviation’s contributions to society from the dawn of commercial aviation in the 1920s through today while showcasing the professionalism and focus on safety that courses through all of aviation.
Organizing a Flyover Planning for this historic flyover started more than 15 months earlier, back in early 2023. AOPA’s Mike Ginter, VP of airports and state advocacy, was tasked with making it happen. Fortunately, Ginter and the participating agencies had some experience. An Arsenal of Democracy Flyover took
place over Washington, D.C., on May 8, 2015, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of VE Day, the end of World War II in Europe. That flyover was organized by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the International Council of Air Shows, and the Commemorative Air
Force. As a veteran, I was moved by the sight of the World War II–era warbirds flying in formation over the US capital. They represented both American military might and the sacrifices that our country made, both essential to winning that war. Ginter also oversaw the second Arsenal of Democracy fly-
over to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day. The event was approved, and some 60 World War II aircraft had gathered at local airports in May 2020. However, the weather
50
POWER UP SEP 2024
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
