The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy has added its voice in opposition to the Washington, D.C., ADIZ.
In comments filed Feb. 6 — the last day for the public to comment on the FAA proposal to make the Washington, D.C. Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) permanent — the agency urged the FAA to get more information about the impact of the ADIZ on small businesses and suggested it offer “less burdensome” alternatives to making the ADIZ permanent.
SBA officials asked the FAA to “publish new alternatives, complete with small business impact data, for public comment on an expedited basis.”
“The SBA’s comments reinforce the fact that airspace restrictions like these aren’t just a problem for pilots,” said Andy Cebula, executive vice president of government affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). “The effects extend well beyond the pilot community and create real hardships for business owners and their employees.”
More than 21,380 comments were submitted on the proposal — a record number — with most vehemently against it. The huge response led the FAA to hold public hearings in January on the proposal.