Upcoming Changes to Class D Airspace...

[Danny Brotto]

While at Fredrick airport yesterday getting some maintenance work performed on my sailplane, the discussion turned to the upcoming budget cuts effect on airspace. One of the changes will be to towered airports. Any towered airport with less than 150,000 operations per year are to have their towers shut down. This will affect Frederick, Hagerstown, and Easton among others. Frederick tower has already received their 45 day notice and is scheduled to close ~ April 1; unsure about the specific dates for the others.

So why is this of interest to us? Well without an operating control tower, the Class D airspace around it goes away. So while previously, legally, we had to stay out of the airspace around Hagerstown (and the others) that requirement goes away.

If this action does in fact proceed, XC flight from some of our sites (McConnelsburg, Highland, etc.) with previous Class D considerations will be less encumbered. This does not mean that the airport itself will shut down. The amount of regular traffic in and out will likely not be affected. It’s just that we would be legally able to fly into what was the previous airspace. Vigilance into this previous airspace must be maintained as these are still high traffic areas.

There are a number of groups trying to keep the towers in operation. Unsure about specific timing of closures. Might be something to understand as you plan your XC adventures.

Danny Brotto

[sailin]

Good info Danny, thank you! And very timely for the spring XC season

Jon