SFAR No. 94 - Enhanced Security Procedures for Operations at Certain Airports in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area

1. Applicability. This Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) establishes rules for all persons operating an aircraft to or from the following airports located within the airspace designated as the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area:

(a) College Park Airport (CGS).

(b) Potomac Airfield (VKX).

(c) Washington Executive/Hyde Field (W32).

2. Definitions. For the purposes of this SFAR the following definitions apply:

Administrator means the Federal Aviation Administrator, the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security, or any person delegated the authority of the Federal Aviation Administrator or Under Secretary of Transportation for Security.

Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area means that airspace within an area from the surface up to but not including Flight Level 180, bounded by a line beginning at the Washington (DCA) VOR/DME 300 degree radial at 15 nautical miles (Lat. 38°56'55' N., Long. 77°20'08' W.); thence clockwise along the DCA 15 nautical mile arc to the DCA 022 degree radial at 15 nautical miles (Lat. 39°06'11' N., Long 76°57'51' W.); thence southeast via a line drawn to the DCA 049 degree radial at 14 nautical miles (Lat. 39°02'18' N., Long. 76°50'38' W.); thence south via a line drawn to the DCA 064 degree radial at 13 nautical miles (Lat. 38°59'01' N., Long. 76°48'32' W.); thence clockwise along the DCA 13 nautical mile arc to the DCA 282 degree radial at 13 nautical miles (Lat. 38°52'14' N., Long 77°18'48' W.); thence north via a line drawn to the point of the beginning; excluding the airspace within a one nautical mile radius of Freeway Airport (W00), Mitchellville, Md.

3. Operating requirements.

(a) Except as specified in paragraph 3(c) of this SFAR, no person may operate an aircraft to or from an airport to which this SFAR applies unless security procedures that meet the provisions of paragraph 4 of this SFAR have been approved by the Administrator for operations at that airport.

(b) Except as specified in paragraph 3(c) of this SFAR, each person serving as a required flightcrew member of an aircraft operating to or from an airport to which this SFAR applies must:

(1) Prior to obtaining authorization to operate to or from the airport, present to the Administrator the following:

(i) A current and valid airman certificate;

(ii) A current medical certificate;

(iii) One form of Government issued picture identification; and

(iv) A list containing the make, model, and registration number of each aircraft that the pilot intends to operate to or from the airport;

(2) Successfully complete a background check by a law enforcement agency, which may include submission of fingerprints and the conduct of a criminal history, records check.

(3) Attend a briefing acceptable to the Administrator that describes procedures for operating to or from the airport;

(4) Not have been convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity, in any jurisdiction, during the 10 years prior to being authorized to operate to or from the airport, or while authorized to operate to or from the airport, of those crimes specified in §108.229 (d) of this chapter;

(5) Not have a record on file with the FAA of:

(i) A violation of a prohibited area designated under part 73 of this chapter, a flight restriction established under §91.141 of this chapter, or special security instructions issued under §99.7 of this chapter; or

(ii) More than one violation of a restricted area designated under part 73 of this chapter, emergency air traffic rules issued under §91.139 of this chapter, a temporary flight restriction designated under §91.137, §91.138, or §91.145 of this chapter, an area designated under §91.143 of this chapter, or any combination thereof;

(6) Be authorized by the Administrator to conduct operations to or from the airport;

(7) Protect from unauthorized disclosure any identification information issued by the Administrator for the conduct of operations to or from the airport;

(8) Operate an aircraft that is authorized by the Administrator for operations to or from the airport;

(9) File an IFR or VFR flight plan telephonically with Leesburg AFSS prior to departure and obtain an ATC clearance prior to entering the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area;

(10) Operate the aircraft in accordance with an open IFR or VFR flight plan while in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area, unless otherwise authorized by ATC;

(11) Maintain two-way communications with an appropriate ATC facility while in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area;

(12) Ensure that the aircraft is equipped with an operable transponder with altitude reporting capability and use an assigned discrete beacon code while operating in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area;

(13) Comply with any instructions issued by ATC for the flight;

(14) Secure the aircraft after returning to the airport from any flight;

(15) Comply with all additional safety and security requirements specified in applicable NOTAMs; and

(16) Comply with any Transportation Security Administration, or law enforcement requirements to operate to or from the airport.

(c) A person may operate a U.S. Armed Forces, law enforcement, or aeromedical services aircraft to or from an affected airport provided the operator complies with paragraphs 3(b)(10) through 3(b)(16) of this SFAR and any additional procedures specified by the Administrator necessary to provide for the security of aircraft operations to or from the airport.

4. Airport Security Procedures.

(a) Airport security procedures submitted to the Administrator for approval must:

(1) Identify and provide contact information for the airport manager who is responsible for ensuring that the security procedures at the airport are implemented and maintained;

(2) Contain procedures to identify those aircraft eligible to be authorized for operations to or from the airport;

(3) Contain procedures to ensure that a current record of those persons authorized to conduct operations to or from the airport and the aircraft in which the person is authorized to conduct those operations is maintained at the airport;

(4) Contain airport arrival and departure route descriptions, air traffic control clearance procedures, flight plan requirements, communications procedures, and procedures for transponder use;

(5) Contain procedures to monitor the security of aircraft at the airport during operational and non-operational hours and to alert aircraft owners and operators, airport operators, and the Administrator of unsecured aircraft;

(6) Contain procedures to ensure that security awareness procedures are implemented and maintained at the airport;

(7) Contain procedures to ensure that a copy of the approved security procedures is maintained at the airport and can be made available for inspection upon request of the Administrator;

(8) Contain procedures to provide the Administrator with the means necessary to make any inspection to determine compliance with the approved security procedures; and

(9) Contain any additional procedures necessary to provide for the security of aircraft operations to or from the airport.

(b) Airport security procedures are approved without an expiration date and remain in effect unless the Administrator makes a determination that operations at the airport have not been conducted in accordance with those procedures or that those procedures must be amended in accordance with paragraph 4.(a)(9) of this SFAR.

5. Waivers. The Administrator may permit an operation to or from an airport to which this SFAR applies, in deviation from the provisions of this SFAR if the Administrator finds that such action is in the public interest, provides the level of security required by this SFAR, and the operation can be conducted safely under the terms of the waiver.

6. Delegation. The authority of the Administrator under this SFAR is also exercised by the Associate Administrator for Civil Aviation Security and the Deputy Associate Administrator for Civil Aviation Security. This authority may be further delegated.

7. Expiration. This Special Federal Aviation Regulation shall remain in effect until February 13, 2003.

[Doc. No. FAA-2002-11580, 67 FR 7544, Feb. 19, 2002]