Congress To Hear From GA On DCA Access

The U.S. House tomorrow will hear testimony from GA industry folk who are hoping to secure access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which has been off-limits to non-scheduled operators since 9/11. The National Business Aviation Association‘s President Shelley Longmuir will be there, as will NATA President James K. Coyne. The hearing, which will be held at 2 p.m. at Signature Flight Support at DCA, is being held by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Aviation, chaired by Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.). Also on the agenda is the continuing impact on GA operations of TFRs. The hearing also will likely look at the impact on airport-based businesses — namely Signature, the only FBO at DCA — as well as the surrounding community. A provision in the FAA reauthorization bill passed late last year requires the Department of Homeland Security to implement a security plan to permit GA aircraft to take off and land at the airport.