Restrictions on airspace surrounding

Hartsfield International Airport have reduced the total number of flights

out of Peachtree City's Falcon Field ... and have cut the airport's fuel

sales accordingly.

Airport Manager Jim Savage

said the restrictions have reduced the airport's fuel sales by approximately

40 percent. The trouble is that Falcon Field is inside a 35-mile radius

of Hartsfield, which is considered class B airspace.

With the new restrictions,

aircraft operating in that zone must fly by instrument rules instead of

visual flight rules, Savage explained. Instrument flight rules require

that flight plans be filed before takeoff.

The problem is that a number

of local pilots are not certified to fly by instrument, or their aircraft

are not certified to do so, Savage said. So those aircraft are essentially

grounded until the restrictions are lifted.

"It is having a major

impact on us financially," Savage said. Fuel sales make up approximately

60 percent of the airport's revenue, he estimated.

While it is understood that

the restrictions are generally meant to protect against a possible terrorist

attack, no specific such threats have been related to Falcon Field officials

which would explain why the restrictions are necessary, Savage said.

"We think the rules are

unduly restrictive," Savage said. "We're not certain what it

is they are trying to protect. We don't know what the perceived threat

is."

The enhanced restrictions on

class B airspace were enacted for airspace surrounding the largest airports

in the country, Savage noted. For some of those airports, the restrictions

have been relaxed, but not at Hartsfield, Savage said.

The airport at Cartersville

is just outside the 35-mile restricted airspace around Hartsfield, where

Falcon Field is just inside that boundary, Savage said.

Associations representing pilots

have lobbied U.S. Congressional officials to lift the restrictions based

on the negative affect they are having on the aviation economy. The Aircraft

Owners and Pilots Association believes the longer the restrictions are

in place, "the more general aviation jobs and business will go under,"

according to Andy Cebula, vice president of government and technical affairs

for AOPA.

Hartsfield is one of 15 airports

with the enhanced class B airspace regulations. Originally, 30 airports

were required to follow those flight rules.

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