GA 'Gateways' to D.C.

TSA is slowly increasing general aviation's (GA) access to Washington, D.C's Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) by expanding the number of "gateway" airports that can perform security clearances on charters, corporate aircraft, and on-demand flights for direct service into DCA. On May 9, the agency said that Dallas Love Field (DAL), Memphis Int'l (MEM) in Tennessee, and Milwaukee's General Mitchell Int'l (MKE) were expanding the roster of DCA gateway airports to 15. The extra GA security procedures at the 15 facilities include TSA inspections of crew, passengers, and property, background checks of crew and passengers, and 24-hour advance submission of crew and passenger manifests. Because of DCA's proximity to the center of the nation's capital, GA craft were banned from DCA after 9/11. Following intensive lobbying by the GA industry and many national legislators (who prefer DCA for their personal use over the two other D.C-area airports, because of its proximity to Capitol Hill), the first lifting of restrictions came in the middle of last year. >>Contact: TSA Public Affairs, (571) 227-2829

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