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Discussions are now underway that could shift the agency responsible for ADIZ security from the U.S. Customs Service to the U.S. Coast Guard, USCG spokesman Lt. Gene Maestas told AVweb yesterday. The Coast Guard would be suited for the job because it has a dual role as a law-enforcement authority as well as a military […]

AOPA Protests AOPA says the FAA’s plan to create a permanent ADIZ of 2,000 square miles — nearly twice the size of Rhode Island — is “operationally unworkable” and not clearly justified by the FAA. The FAA is currently seeking comments on its proposal. Meanwhile, for those who must navigate the region’s nerve-wracking airspace (and […]

Cox said it’s important for pilots to understand customs pilots’ role in the protection of the Capitol. “We’re here to protect GA,” he said. As long as an ADIZ-busting pilot is successfully intercepted by unarmed customs aircraft, there’s no need to call out the armed-to-the-teeth military, whose attitude toward errant aviators is markedly different. “The […]

Customs pilots normally fly drug interdiction missions off the coast but they also rotate through Washington on temporary duty. They work 12 hours on, 12 hours off waiting for the call to scramble. And while the time away from home and the long days are hard, Cox said there’s nothing like the flying. The Citation, […]

Repeat After Me, “121.5” AVweb met U.S. Customs Service pilot Mark Cox on the grounds of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Cox was among several customs pilots on the show grounds this year displaying a Citation 550. Cox has flown three intercepts over Washington, including one that had authorities on the ground more than a little concerned. […]

Not long ago (a little over a week ago) the HondaJet was strictly a technology demonstrator … or so Honda would have us believe. As recently as AirVenture 2005 Honda Aero representatives told that the HondaJet was built to be carried by the GE/Honda engines, supposedly the only part of the jet that would be […]

Although flight restrictions around D.C. and dozens of sensitive areas throughout the country have been a fact of life for four years, this will be the first opportunity for public input on them. “If there’s a silver lining in all of this, it’s that we will be inviting comment,” said FAA spokesman Greg Martin. Until […]

The FAA claims the extra burden on the aviation community associated with the permanent restrictions will be about $250 million over 10 years, almost all of it to cover the extra work of controllers and FAA administrative staff. It’s estimated the direct cost to those using the 19 airports within the zone will be about […]

GA Terror Concern Behind Permanent ADIZ The Department of Homeland Security’s enduring belief that terror could come from the sky in the form of light GA aircraft is behind the FAA’s proposal to permanently establish restricted airspace around Washington, D.C. In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the FAA says the DHS has “no specific […]

As we reported from the show, Honda officials repeated their long-held position that the airplane was merely a test bed for the engine it has developed. The HF118 turbofan is said to be more efficient than comparable (about 1,700 pounds thrust) engines and Honda has partnered with General Electric in its development. But now Honda […]